I think I have a different perspective on the "curse" of Babel. I see
the flourishing of linguistic diversity as evidence of healthy human
culture, and I see the current linguistic die-off as a cause for sadness
and concern. I found this site http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/
giving testament to it, but it is an oft-remarked phenomenon of the
internet age that our culture is becoming more monolithic and less
diverse, and this includes language.
Perhaps the invention of so many human/machine communication languages
makes up to some degree for the extinction of "natural" ones, but I fear
something precious is being lost.
Mike
On 7/26/2014 9:55 AM, Steve Newcomb wrote:
> Fundamentally, all languages serve exactly the same purpose: symbolic
> communication. The difference between meta-language and language is
> one of perspective; it's not intrinsic. In general, may an unlimited
> number of languages, useful for an unlimited number of purposes,
> flourish.
>
> And they will flourish (and wither) whether we like it or not. The
> creation of a new language designed to meet requirements already met
> by an existing language is by definition an anti-pattern, but it
> happens all the time. It's part of human reality. Fundamentally, one
> cannot say anything new without designing a way to say it. Perhaps
> it's a new way, and perhaps not. It's not practical to find out
> which, and it's never a de-novo invention anyway.
>
> It's a design *meta*-pattern to take the reality of Babel into
> account, because that reality touches everything we do as cultural
> creatures and as creatures of our cultures.
>
> Much misery could be avoided by judicious application of the
> above-mentioned meta-pattern, but there's evidently a shortage of will
> to apply it. A sad human reality: *how* things are said is much
> easier to criticize (and demonize) than *what* is being said.
>
> I'm noticing that this sure is a long, hot summer. I wonder whether
> our propensity for violence is somehow inherent in the curse of Babel,
> or are the differences in our ways of saying things merely excuses for
> starting new cycles of violence? It does appear that the *how* is a
> handy excuse for violence of every kind, and violence begets violence
> until (a) the *what* finally becomes more important than the *how*, or
> (b) everyone's exhausted or dead, whichever comes first.
>
> On 07/26/2014 08:51 AM, Costello, Roger L. wrote:
>> Hi Folks,
>>
>> I have been using XML a long time. I think it's fabulous.
>>
>> Recently I have been immersed in JSON. I think it's also fabulous.
>>
>> Which is better: XML or JSON?
>>
>> I think that's the wrong question. The right question is: why are
>> they so fabulous?
>>
>> XML and JSON are really not so different. They are both
>> meta-languages. That is, they instruct users: "Create your languages
>> by following this form."
>>
>> There is no reason to believe that the XML form or the JSON form is
>> the one divine form.
>>
>> But, the concept of defining a meta-language and then deriving
>> languages from it, well, that is a truly divine idea.
>>
>> XML and JSON should be treated as good meta-languages. That is, they
>> provide fine examples of how to create languages: define a
>> meta-language first and then from it create languages.
>>
>> Are you part of a community that needs to create a collection of
>> languages? Create a meta-language first and then derive your
>> languages from it.
>>
>> May a thousand meta-languages flourish.
>>
>> I welcome your thoughts.
>>
>> /Roger
>>
>> _______________________________________________________________________
>>
>> XML-DEV is a publicly archived, unmoderated list hosted by OASIS
>> to support XML implementation and development. To minimize
>> spam in the archives, you must subscribe before posting.
>>
>> [Un]Subscribe/change address: http://www.oasis-open.org/mlmanage/
>> Or unsubscribe:
>> subscribe:
>> List archive: http://lists.xml.org/archives/xml-dev/
>> List Guidelines: http://www.oasis-open.org/maillists/guidelines.php
>
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
>
> XML-DEV is a publicly archived, unmoderated list hosted by OASIS
> to support XML implementation and development. To minimize
> spam in the archives, you must subscribe before posting.
>
> [Un]Subscribe/change address: http://www.oasis-open.org/mlmanage/
> Or unsubscribe:
> subscribe:
> List archive: http://lists.xml.org/archives/xml-dev/
> List Guidelines: http://www.oasis-open.org/maillists/guidelines.php
