Learning Artificial Languages

[Bob LeChevalier-Logical Language Group <lojbab@lojban.org>]

Don Harlow posted the following on the Auxlang List, and I think it is 
something worth sharing with Lojbanists:

 >It will occasionally be argued that a constructed language is artificial,
 >and therefore inappropriate for actual use by natural, living human beings.
 >Let's consider the context in which this argument is made. Such a criticism
 >is usually
 >
 >     registered on artificial paper
 >     using an artificial typewriter --
 >     after the critic has sleepily climbed out of his artificial bed,
 >     showered with water pumped artificially uphill,
 >     brushed his -- often artificial -- teeth
 >     with an artificial toothbrush
 >     dipped in artificial toothpaste,
 >     and put on his artificially produced
 >     artificial fiber clothing.
 >     He will then have eaten a breakfast created artificially
 >     (and containing lots of artificial chemicals!)
 >     and driven to his artificial office,
 >     where he will do artificial work,
 >     in an artificial vehicle
 >     along an artificial roadway,
 >     while (hopefully) obeying many artificial laws.
 >
 >How at this point he can complain about the "artificiality" of any
 >constructed language bemuses -- and amuses -- me.
 >
 >(From chap. 2 of _The Esperanto Book_.)
 >
 >
 >-- Don HARLOW

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