Date:  Tue, 18 Nov 1997 09:51:12 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <199711181451.JAA03183@locke.ccil.org>
Reply-To: And Rosta <a.rosta@UCLAN.AC.UK>
Sender: Lojban list <LOJBAN@CUVMB.BITNET>
From: And Rosta <a.rosta@UCLAN.AC.UK>
Organization: University of Central Lancashire
Subject:      Re: What is language?
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To: John Cowan <cowan@LOCKE.CCIL.ORG>
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Robin Turner:
> OK, so there are several conflicting definitions of language.  This just
> means that LANGUAGE is a prototypical category, or a radial category, or a
> family resemblance, or something like that.  I think the main problem is
> not language, but linguists who keep trying to redefine what it is they're
> supposed to be studying (Chomsky - much as I love the man - being the worst
> offender here).  "It's life, Jim, but not as we know it."

This is for sure. But my point is that an invented "language" is
a language in only one of these various senses.

--And