From rlpowell@csclub.uwaterloo.ca Sun Nov 12 22:36:33 2000 Return-Path: X-Sender: rlpowell@calum.csclub.uwaterloo.ca X-Apparently-To: lojban@egroups.com Received: (EGP: mail-6_2_1); 13 Nov 2000 06:36:33 -0000 Received: (qmail 24342 invoked from network); 13 Nov 2000 06:36:32 -0000 Received: from unknown (10.1.10.27) by m3.onelist.org with QMQP; 13 Nov 2000 06:36:32 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO calum.csclub.uwaterloo.ca) (129.97.134.11) by mta2 with SMTP; 13 Nov 2000 06:36:32 -0000 Received: from calum.csclub.uwaterloo.ca (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by calum.csclub.uwaterloo.ca (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) with ESMTP id BAA23033 for ; Mon, 13 Nov 2000 01:40:18 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <200011130640.BAA23033@calum.csclub.uwaterloo.ca> To: lojban@egroups.com Subject: Re: [lojban] [Slightly OT] Total Vocab Limits? In-Reply-To: Message from pycyn@aol.com of "Sat, 11 Nov 2000 16:25:56 EST." <79.bf940d2.273f1364@aol.com> Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2000 01:40:18 -0500 X-eGroups-From: Robin Lee Powell From: Robin Lee Powell pycyn@aol.com writes: >In a message dated 11/11/2000 3:09:00 AM EST, rlpowell@csclub.uwaterloo.ca >writes: > > When one learns a second (or third, or nth) language, does the new > vocabulary 'compete' with the old? In other words, does there seem to > be a limit to the total number of words a (normal) person can learn in > _all_ the languages they speak? > > -Robin >> >Apparently not - I suspect there is a theoretical limit of some sort, but >actual polyglots don't seem to be limited in any language they know (I don't >know anyone who knows more than 11 as spoken languages, but they are accepted >in all that I have been able to check as competent speakers. But most learn >all their languages as children, for what that is worth.) It's worth rather a bit, actually, since I wouldn't fit in that category and it's me I'm worried about. Anyone got any non-anecdotal evidence (no offense intended, pycyn)? -Robin -- http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/~rlpowell/ BTW, I'm male, honest. Despite not getting very emotional about it, the fact that quantum entanglement doesn't allow transmission of information is probably the most profound dissapointment I've ever experienced. -- RLPowell