Comments on: Ideal Language and the Possibility of Deceit http://www.coriolinus.net/2009/12/16/ideal-language-and-the-possibility-of-deceit/ read, and be entertained Thu, 16 Jun 2011 07:31:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: coriolinus http://www.coriolinus.net/2009/12/16/ideal-language-and-the-possibility-of-deceit/comment-page-1/#comment-37523 coriolinus Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:54:41 +0000 http://www.coriolinus.net/?p=2909#comment-37523 I can think of a way; it'd just be impractically expensive. It runs like this: set up two identical Truman Show towns. Give a convincing reason why people can never leave: "you're a mars colony" or something. In both, all adults are actors, not part of the test set. In one, the only spoken language is English. In the other, the only spoken or written language is Lojban. Wait 25 years or so, then test the logical capability of both populations of youngsters. Even if only for the Truman Show footage it generates it'd be a fun experiment to be a part of. I can think of a way; it’d just be impractically expensive. It runs like this: set up two identical Truman Show towns. Give a convincing reason why people can never leave: “you’re a mars colony” or something. In both, all adults are actors, not part of the test set. In one, the only spoken language is English. In the other, the only spoken or written language is Lojban. Wait 25 years or so, then test the logical capability of both populations of youngsters.

Even if only for the Truman Show footage it generates it’d be a fun experiment to be a part of.

]]> By: Explodicle http://www.coriolinus.net/2009/12/16/ideal-language-and-the-possibility-of-deceit/comment-page-1/#comment-37450 Explodicle Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:22:56 +0000 http://www.coriolinus.net/?p=2909#comment-37450 Not to the best of my knowlege, no. I don't even know how such a thing could be measured. Not to the best of my knowlege, no. I don’t even know how such a thing could be measured.

]]> By: Mom http://www.coriolinus.net/2009/12/16/ideal-language-and-the-possibility-of-deceit/comment-page-1/#comment-37449 Mom Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:10:23 +0000 http://www.coriolinus.net/?p=2909#comment-37449 I think free will is basic to being human, including the will do communicate what we want in language. I think free will is basic to being human, including the will do communicate what we want in language.

]]> By: coriolinus http://www.coriolinus.net/2009/12/16/ideal-language-and-the-possibility-of-deceit/comment-page-1/#comment-37446 coriolinus Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:45:04 +0000 http://www.coriolinus.net/?p=2909#comment-37446 Lojban seems interesting. I love the notion that translation, at least from it to a natural language, is a compiler problem! I can't seem to find any empirical results from the experiment which birthed Loglan as a side effect. Do you know of any? Lojban seems interesting. I love the notion that translation, at least from it to a natural language, is a compiler problem!

I can’t seem to find any empirical results from the experiment which birthed Loglan as a side effect. Do you know of any?

]]> By: Explodicle http://www.coriolinus.net/2009/12/16/ideal-language-and-the-possibility-of-deceit/comment-page-1/#comment-37430 Explodicle Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:47:50 +0000 http://www.coriolinus.net/?p=2909#comment-37430 It sounds like he'd be a fan of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loglan" rel="nofollow">Loglan</a> (and its successor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lojban" rel="nofollow">Lojban</a>). Loglan was invented in 1955 as part of an experiment to see if people would actually think more logically if they had to phrase their wording in a logical language. I think whether or not this is ideal depends on the situation. As an engineer, rationalist, and terrible liar, I would prefer to convey most of my ideas this way. But there are plenty of cases (theater, poetry, etc) where you're certainly correct. It sounds like he’d be a fan of Loglan (and its successor Lojban). Loglan was invented in 1955 as part of an experiment to see if people would actually think more logically if they had to phrase their wording in a logical language.

I think whether or not this is ideal depends on the situation. As an engineer, rationalist, and terrible liar, I would prefer to convey most of my ideas this way. But there are plenty of cases (theater, poetry, etc) where you’re certainly correct.

]]>