Re: Responding to a challenge

From: Jacques Guy (jguy_at_alphalink.com.au)
Date: 08/16/04 

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2004 12:47:40 -0700

Raymond S. Wise wrote:

> Now, I wish once again to make the point that I am talking about one sort of
> complexity only. In another sort of complexity (for which I have used the
> expression "ability to express complex ideas"), all languages are equally
> complex.

Mmmm... it is fairly easy to express "elliptical orbit" in English.
To express the same in, take your pick, oh, almost any will do, take
my favourite, Sakao, just a run-of-the-mill Austronesian language,
and let's try. Sakao hasn't a word for "orbit", it hasn't a word for
"elliptical" (nor for "circular" either). So...? Unconvinced? How about
"colour balance" then? Sakao hasn't a word for "colour" (I don't
think it has one for "balance" either, but I couldn't swear it).
Looks to me that expressing "colour balance" in Sakao is a lot
more complex than ... yes, why not, even Esperanto.