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From: donh@netcom.com (Don HARLOW)
Subject: Re: Single European Language
Message-ID: <donhDAE4wp.2BJ@netcom.com>
Organization: Esperanto League for North America, Inc.
References: <802916119snz@storcomp.demon.co.uk> <3rkhcp$cre@mozart.wg.icl.co.uk> <803165902snz@storcomp.demon.co.uk> <3rphf7$sdl@crchh972.bnr.ca>
Date: Sun, 18 Jun 1995 22:53:12 GMT
Lines: 49
Sender: donh@netcom2.netcom.com

eaglesto@bnr.ca (Robert Eaglestone) skribis en lastatempa afisxo <3rphf7$sdl@crchh972.bnr.ca>:
>
>In article <803165902snz@storcomp.demon.co.uk>, Phil Hunt <philip@storcomp.demon.co.uk> writes:
>> 
>> No. I am saying that it is possible to construct a langauge with a much
>> smaller vocabulary than English.
>> 
>> If you want to convey a subtle difference in meaning in such a 
>> language, you can use a modifier.
>> 
Damn it, Phil, I hate it when I have to agree with you on something!

But I think you should change your wording slightly. I don't think that 
it's particularly desirable to construct a language with a much _smaller_ 
vocabulary than English (at least, not much _smaller_ than the vocabulary 
used by a typical speaker -- it's not clear that words such as "supercalli-
fragilisticexpialidotious" really contribute much to the language, 
especially when the sound of them is something quite atrocious). I think, 
rather, you should say that it is possible (and even desirable) to 
construct a language with a much _more manageable_ vocabulary than English.

Hence your second paragraph.

>Double Plus Ungood!!

Here, for example, is a really good example of a managed vocabulary 
which nonetheless allows expression of a number of very fine shades of 
meaning:

Quadruple plus good
Triple plus good
Double plus good
Plus good
Good
Ungood
Plus ungood
Double plus ungood
Triple plus ungood
Quadruple plus ungood...

Not to mention "Triple minus good" and the like...

(Oh, Eric, are they calling you "whirling George" today?)

-- 
Don HARLOW			donh@netcom.com
Esperanto League for N.A.       elna@netcom.com (800) 828-5944
ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/el/elna/elna.html         Esperanto
http://www.webcom.com/~donh
