Thanks, Michael. A good summary. I think number three is interesting,
because we all know that experience of not being able to put something into
words, but we probably also have the experience of having so much more
power when we finally succeed. And it can be hard work!
Regards
Howard
On 16 June 2017 at 18:15, Michael Lewis <mlewis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Howard,
There are indeed three.
1 (The law of linguistic entropy): Language broadens to occupy the space
vacated by the receding intellect. That is, language is used sloppily
because of sloppy thinking.
2 (The law of linguistic apathy): Language is capable of surgical
precision, but most people use it like a blunt axe. That is, language is
used sloppily because its users can't be bothered.
3 (The law of linguistic atrophy, which you already have): If you can't
say what you mean, you probably don't know what you mean. That is, language
is used sloppily because its users have stopped thinking and caring. When
someone says - in response to being misunderstood - "You know what I mean",
it's appropriate to reply "Perhaps I do, but apparently you don't".
I wrote a short paper on these some decades ago; I can probably lay my
hands on a hard copy, but the soft copy appears to have gone to the Great
Bit Bucket in the Sky.
- Michael
On 16/06/2017 06:57, Howard Silcock wrote:
[For Michael] If there really are three Lewis's Laws (or more?), can you
tell us about the others?
