NP Words and worlds

[jbor]

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/08/16/1029114003557.html

    [ ... ] there's no logical connection between a word ("dog") and the
    four-legged creature herself. Of course, with a vertical or historical
    approach, we can trace the etymology, note when "dog" entered the
    language, how it connects to "canine", etc. But a horizontal approach,
    in which we try to connect the word with the thing it describes, puts us
    on shaky ground.

    [ ... ]

    Children and monolinguals can fool themselves into thinking that
    there's a logical relationship between a word and the thing it
    describes.

best


on 24/8/02 1:36 PM, s~Z at keithsz at concentric.net wrote:

> just like that tree in your front yard which only exists as a tree because
> there is consensual agreement to experience it as such.