Yes. First, that elusive word "on the tip of the tongue" does look like
a counter-example, but in general we are aware of the problem and
willing to say so - "Bother. It's on the tip of my tongue . . ." I think
that counts as a temporary failure in the recall mechanism rather than a
case of atrophied linguistic skill.
Second, the more complex problem that you describe is really the exact
opposite of atrophy; we are aware of the problem, and we work at solving
it rather than not caring, and saying (or writing) something that
doesn't communicate effectively.
- Michael
On 16/06/2017 21:02, Howard Silcock wrote:
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 <mailto: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?
<http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient>
<#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
