Language - Revision history

Antefyn: /* Translation */ More specific link for translation (also, added missing space and corrected typo)

2015-06-01T05:48:51Z

Translation: More specific link for translation (also, added missing space and corrected typo)

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	==Translation==		==Translation==
	Reëxpressing something in a different language from the one in which it was originally spoken or written is called[[translation]]. Translation is rarely a simple process, since languages differ not only in their vocabulary but also in their grammar, and even words with the same essential meaning may have different connotations or associations. Wordplay and figures of speech may translate particularly poorly. In general, a good translation rarely if ever involves a word-for-word substitution; the best translators are great writers in their own right, and their translations are more or less a matter of writing a new work that captures, to the best of their ability, the meaning and subtleties of the original. Even so, a translation can never exactly duplicate all of the original work's qualities.		Reëxpressing something in a different language from the one in which it was originally spoken or written is called [[translation (linguistics)\|translation]]. Translation is rarely a simple process, since languages differ not only in their vocabulary but also in their grammar, and even words with the same essential meaning may have different connotations or associations. Wordplay and figures of speech may translate particularly poorly. In general, a good translation rarely if ever involves a word-for-word substitution; the best translators are great writers in their own right, and their translations are more or less a matter of writing a new work that captures, to the best of their ability, the meaning and subtleties of the original. Even so, a translation can never exactly duplicate all of the original work's qualities.

	Simpler than translation, though still not necessarily trivial, is [[transliteration]], the expression of a word or name from one language according to the alphabet and orthographical principles of another. Since languages don't all share the same phonemes, some sacrifices still need to be made, but given that the number of phonemes in a given language is finite, it's generally possible to hammer out a workable system, though it may require either ~~uninuitive~~ digraphs or diacriticals to stand for sounds that don't exist in the target language. Nevertheless, differences in transliteration may render two representations of the same name completely unrecognizable as being related. If two languages share the same alphabet, it may be possible to just port a word over directly without any respelling, though if the source language has different orthographical rules this may be confusing—it's such direct borrowing of unrespelled words that is partly responsible for the notorious irregularity of English spelling.		Simpler than translation, though still not necessarily trivial, is [[transliteration]], the expression of a word or name from one language according to the alphabet and orthographical principles of another. Since languages don't all share the same phonemes, some sacrifices still need to be made, but given that the number of phonemes in a given language is finite, it's generally possible to hammer out a workable system, though it may require either unintuitive digraphs or diacriticals to stand for sounds that don't exist in the target language. Nevertheless, differences in transliteration may render two representations of the same name completely unrecognizable as being related. If two languages share the same alphabet, it may be possible to just port a word over directly without any respelling, though if the source language has different orthographical rules this may be confusing—it's such direct borrowing of unrespelled words that is partly responsible for the notorious irregularity of English spelling.

	==Taxonomy==		==Taxonomy==

Antefyn: Link to specific meaning of translation

2015-06-01T05:47:26Z

Link to specific meaning of translation

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	[[Natural language]]s are those that developed more or less spontaneously, presumably over many generations and a long period of time. Languages, like [[organism]]s, [[linguistic evolution\|evolve]] over time, as new words are coined for new situations, old words fall out of favor due to various reasons, some grammatical rules are simplified and others, for other reasons, recomplicated. A population speaking the same language tends to develop different regional or social dialects; if the population spreads over a wide area, the dialects may develop into separate languages, especially if different subpopulations become relatively isolated. So did the [[Romance language]]s such as [[Spanish]], [[French]], [[Italian]], Romanian, and [[Portuguese]] all develop from [[Latin]], and so did Latin itself apparently develop from [[Proto-Indo-European]] in parallel with (among others) [[Sanskrit]]; North, East, and West [[Germanic language\|Germanic]], and the ancestors of the [[Celtic language]]s.		[[Natural language]]s are those that developed more or less spontaneously, presumably over many generations and a long period of time. Languages, like [[organism]]s, [[linguistic evolution\|evolve]] over time, as new words are coined for new situations, old words fall out of favor due to various reasons, some grammatical rules are simplified and others, for other reasons, recomplicated. A population speaking the same language tends to develop different regional or social dialects; if the population spreads over a wide area, the dialects may develop into separate languages, especially if different subpopulations become relatively isolated. So did the [[Romance language]]s such as [[Spanish]], [[French]], [[Italian]], Romanian, and [[Portuguese]] all develop from [[Latin]], and so did Latin itself apparently develop from [[Proto-Indo-European]] in parallel with (among others) [[Sanskrit]]; North, East, and West [[Germanic language\|Germanic]], and the ancestors of the [[Celtic language]]s.

	While natural languages generally derive their basic grammar and their [[function word]]s (such as prepositions, pronouns, et cetera) from their [[parent language]]s, they often freely "[[borrowing\|borrow]]" [[content word]]s (nouns, verbs, and adjectives) from other languages. English, for example, is of Germanic ancestry, and its grammar and function words reflect this, but the majority of recent borrowings have been from [[Greek]], [[Latin]], or [[French]], and many words have been borrowed from completely unrelated languages from Algonquin ([[Wiktionary:caucus#English\|caucus]], [[Wiktionary:raccoon\|raccoon]]) to Zulu ([[Wiktionary:impala#English\|impala]], [[Wiktionary:mamba#English\|mamba]]). Direct borrowing is by no means the only means of word formation; some new words are formed by [[compound]]ing old words together, others by [[analogy]] with existing constructions; others are formed by [[calque]]—the morpheme-by-morpheme [[translation]] of a foreign term—; still others come by [[onomatopoeia]]—the imitation of a sound—or by yet other mechanisms—not excluding arbitrary inventions.		While natural languages generally derive their basic grammar and their [[function word]]s (such as prepositions, pronouns, et cetera) from their [[parent language]]s, they often freely "[[borrowing\|borrow]]" [[content word]]s (nouns, verbs, and adjectives) from other languages. English, for example, is of Germanic ancestry, and its grammar and function words reflect this, but the majority of recent borrowings have been from [[Greek]], [[Latin]], or [[French]], and many words have been borrowed from completely unrelated languages from Algonquin ([[Wiktionary:caucus#English\|caucus]], [[Wiktionary:raccoon\|raccoon]]) to Zulu ([[Wiktionary:impala#English\|impala]], [[Wiktionary:mamba#English\|mamba]]). Direct borrowing is by no means the only means of word formation; some new words are formed by [[compound]]ing old words together, others by [[analogy]] with existing constructions; others are formed by [[calque]]—the morpheme-by-morpheme [[translation (linguistics)\|translation]] of a foreign term—; still others come by [[onomatopoeia]]—the imitation of a sound—or by yet other mechanisms—not excluding arbitrary inventions.

	===Pidgins and creoles===		===Pidgins and creoles===

Clé: Noesis -> Ellogy

2013-05-11T09:21:09Z

Noesis -> Ellogy

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:21, 11 May 2013
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	{{otheruses\|systems of communication\|the capacity of language\|language (mass noun)}}		{{otheruses\|systems of communication\|the capacity of language\|language (mass noun)}}
	A '''language''' is a detailed system of communication through arrangement of symbolic elements. While the word is most commonly used to refer to a means of spoken or written communication between [[~~noesis~~\|~~noetic~~]] beings, it can also encompass the particular rules and symbols used to write [[computer]] programs. A language is also sometimes [[metonymy\|metonymically]] known as a "[[tongue]]". The study of languages is known as [[linguistics]]; a specialist in linguistics is a [[linguist]].		A '''language''' is a detailed system of communication through arrangement of symbolic elements. While the word is most commonly used to refer to a means of spoken or written communication between [[ellogy\|ellogous]] beings, it can also encompass the particular rules and symbols used to write [[computer]] programs. A language is also sometimes [[metonymy\|metonymically]] known as a "[[tongue]]". The study of languages is known as [[linguistics]]; a specialist in linguistics is a [[linguist]].

	Variations within a language are called [[dialect]]s. Lines dividing dialects differing according to particular features are called [[isogloss]]es. Generally, the defining factor between a language and a dialect is mutual comprehensibility: if two speakers can understand each other, they are speaking different dialects of the same language; if they cannot, they speak different languages. There are some circumstances under which this definition proves problematic, as in [[linguistic continuum\|linguistic continua]], sequences of dialects in which each dialect is mutually comprehensible with the next in the sequence, but the two dialects at the ends of the sequence are mutually incomprehensible. Such phenomena notwithstanding, the definition of a language by mutual comprehensibility remains widely used, though recognized as entailing some questionable cases. Taking the matter further, no two people necessarily attach exactly the same meanings to the words or phrases they use, or construct their linguistic expressions exactly the same way, which means in a way that each speaker of a given language really has his own personal dialect, called an [[idiolect]].		Variations within a language are called [[dialect]]s. Lines dividing dialects differing according to particular features are called [[isogloss]]es. Generally, the defining factor between a language and a dialect is mutual comprehensibility: if two speakers can understand each other, they are speaking different dialects of the same language; if they cannot, they speak different languages. There are some circumstances under which this definition proves problematic, as in [[linguistic continuum\|linguistic continua]], sequences of dialects in which each dialect is mutually comprehensible with the next in the sequence, but the two dialects at the ends of the sequence are mutually incomprehensible. Such phenomena notwithstanding, the definition of a language by mutual comprehensibility remains widely used, though recognized as entailing some questionable cases. Taking the matter further, no two people necessarily attach exactly the same meanings to the words or phrases they use, or construct their linguistic expressions exactly the same way, which means in a way that each speaker of a given language really has his own personal dialect, called an [[idiolect]].
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	===Quasilanguages===		===Quasilanguages===
	In addition to the detailed languages used for communication between ~~[[noesis\|noetic]]~~ beings, the word "language" is also used sometimes to refer to other, more limited systems of communication for particular purposes, which could perhaps be referred to as [[quasilanguage]]s. Among these are [[formal language]]s, strict, well-defined sets of symbols and their interactions designed to unequivocally specify statements within some restricted regime. In losing their ambiguity, these systems also sacrifice their potential for open [[metaphor]] and for broadening to arbitrary meanings. The most widely used formal languages are [[programming language]]s, quasilanguages used to specify instructions to a [[computer]].		In addition to the detailed languages used for communication between ellogous beings, the word "language" is also used sometimes to refer to other, more limited systems of communication for particular purposes, which could perhaps be referred to as [[quasilanguage]]s. Among these are [[formal language]]s, strict, well-defined sets of symbols and their interactions designed to unequivocally specify statements within some restricted regime. In losing their ambiguity, these systems also sacrifice their potential for open [[metaphor]] and for broadening to arbitrary meanings. The most widely used formal languages are [[programming language]]s, quasilanguages used to specify instructions to a [[computer]].

	Many other phenomena that can communicate ideas or information are also sometimes referred to as languages, though with dubious accuracy. Sometimes music is said to be a language, on the grounds that it communicates emotional content, but even if one grants the nonobvious proposition that a musical piece will communicate the same or similar emotions to all listeners, it's still not the case that music can be used to communicate concepts beyond those of mood and emotion. No work of wordless music could univocally convey an expression like "saber-toothed cat" or "I intend to take a ten-[[meter\|kilometer]] walk next Tuesday". [[Mathematics]] is sometimes said to be a language, with even ''less'' justification. Mathematical ''notation'' may be a formal language, but mathematics itself is a field of study and a collection of ideas and notations described by mathematical notation but not synonymous with it.		Many other phenomena that can communicate ideas or information are also sometimes referred to as languages, though with dubious accuracy. Sometimes music is said to be a language, on the grounds that it communicates emotional content, but even if one grants the nonobvious proposition that a musical piece will communicate the same or similar emotions to all listeners, it's still not the case that music can be used to communicate concepts beyond those of mood and emotion. No work of wordless music could univocally convey an expression like "saber-toothed cat" or "I intend to take a ten-[[meter\|kilometer]] walk next Tuesday". [[Mathematics]] is sometimes said to be a language, with even ''less'' justification. Mathematical ''notation'' may be a formal language, but mathematics itself is a field of study and a collection of ideas and notations described by mathematical notation but not synonymous with it.

	Some ~~innoetic~~ beings have means of communication which, while not as expansive as [[human]] languages and not capable of expressing broad abstract concepts, still are capable of conveying a limited set of ideas, and could perhaps be considered quasilanguages. Vervet [[monkey]]s have different alarm sounds corresponding to different kinds of dangers and for various other specific circumstances. The complex sounds produced by dolphins and other whales have not been fully deciphered, but seem likely to compose at least a fairly robust quasilanguage. The communication of many animals through scented secretions could also possibly be sometimes considered a type of [[olfaction\|olfactory]] quasilanguage. Such limited and possibly precursive quasilinguistic systems are sometimes known as [[protolanguage]]s.		Some alogous beings have means of communication which, while not as expansive as [[human]] languages and not capable of expressing broad abstract concepts, still are capable of conveying a limited set of ideas, and could perhaps be considered quasilanguages. Vervet [[monkey]]s have different alarm sounds corresponding to different kinds of dangers and for various other specific circumstances. The complex sounds produced by dolphins and other whales have not been fully deciphered, but seem likely to compose at least a fairly robust quasilanguage. The communication of many animals through scented secretions could also possibly be sometimes considered a type of [[olfaction\|olfactory]] quasilanguage. Such limited and possibly precursive quasilinguistic systems are sometimes known as [[protolanguage]]s.

	==Origins==		==Origins==

Oscqr: Created page with '{{otheruses|systems of communication|the capacity of language|language (mass noun)}} A '''language''' is a detailed system of communication through arrangement of symbolic elemen…'

2012-06-10T02:41:01Z

Created page with '{{otheruses|systems of communication|the capacity of language|language (mass noun)}} A '''language''' is a detailed system of communication through arrangement of symbolic elemen…'

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