RE: Gender in pronouns
Sorik of Vulcan 
Wed, 14 Oct 1998 16:18:04 PDT


>Does everyone remember Lyras' speech about abstract words?
>We could have words in categories: concept (totally abstract), derived 
or=
>
>semi-objective, and object.
>C'Thia would be conceptual. There is nothing you can point at and say 
tha=
>t
>it is 'C'Thia'. It has no
>practical relation with the physical world.
>
>The Vulcan Academy would IMO be semi-objective meaning there is a real 
se=
>t
>of buildings but when you =
>
>say "The Vulcan Academy" you still draw on a variety of objects for
>defining what the Vulcan Academy is.
>A derived word could be a word like "seskahlna" (made up), meaning a
>'priests' staff'. There is an actual
>stick or staff that would be objective but that's not all there is to 
it.=
>
>
>'Plant' or 'house' would be objective as you can point to a clear 
thing.
>When speaking of plants or houses
>in a more general way, you could go back to using the semi-objective
>pronoun, indicating you don't refer
>to a particular plant or house.
>
>This distinctions make sense in a language and culture where it is of 
gre=
>at
>importance to make clear how your
>logical thinking precisely developed. In Terran languages it is often 
har=
>d
>to put into sounds precisely and
>accurately what exactly went on in your mind. This is clearly not
>desirable.
>
>Greetings,
>
>Sorahl
>
>

I very strongly agree.

Sorik


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www,hotmail,com