On a more serious note, I doubt that people think in language. People think in ideas. It's just difficult to portray those ideas without using language (which is the whole purpose of language, isn't it?). For example, the brain can (very easily) store information that you can't describe with language, which disproves that theory right there.
Well, I think that is mostly true, but yeah language is about
sharing ideas between people. The language DOES have an effect on how ideas get shared, as ideas can only be shared according the the terms and constraints available of the language they're being communicated in. And that is where language has its control on thought; both in determining what kind of thought is needed for a sender to correctly send a given idea, and for the receiver to correctly receive the sent message.
Because of this, using Lojban would almost certainly encourage people to apply logical thinking in general to a greater degree. The value of that
more logically thinking people alone could be immeasurable in the long run.
Another problem with using a logic-based language arises in scenarios without logic, or in which the logic is impossible or difficult to understand, or just isn't there. Imagine trying to explain quantum mechanics. In these cases ambiguity is required because it allows a person to easily make a jump from one concept to another. (i.e. analogies are built off a foundation of ambiguity.)
Ambiguity is possible with words and terms in Lojban. Just not in the
usage of the language. There ought to be no way to mistake what someone is saying, but their meaning can still be ambiguous. If that makes sense.
At least, that's what I've come to understand. It's not like E-prime, necessarily.
I really like the idea of the lajban language, I just don't think it will ever happen. The practical use of the language < the practical implementation on the people. Similar to how USA still uses standard(why is it called standard if only 3 countries use it
) and metric measurement systems. No one will switch because old people that already learned it find it too confusing...
You hit it. That'd be the key reason. It would have to come down to some form of necessity, as a start, but the vast majority of people will just be of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mindset.
I say we start a new society on an isolated island comprised purely of intellectuals who speak only Lojban. Brilliant idea, no?
Post has been edited 9 time(s), last time on May 14 2008, 11:21 am by Tuxedo-Templar.
None.