I have a couple of weeks of class left, and a lot to get done in the meantime. This evening I’ve been working on my phonetics project, which, interestingly enough, is on a language that has not, as far as I or the “informant” from whom I am getting all my language information know, beenContinue reading “Snach of linguistics project”
Category Archives: Language
More accurate Russell argumentation (I hope)
In “On Denoting” Bertrand Russell responds to Gottlob Frege’s system of categorizing names and descriptive phrases as being meaningful within the boundaries of Sinn and Bedeutung, often translated “sense” and “reference.” Russell translates and alters Frege’s Bedeutung as “denotation.” Though Russell does not define precisely what he means by this term, from the examples heContinue reading “More accurate Russell argumentation (I hope)”
Discussing required Bertrand Russell
If the purpose of a statement, in language, is to denote something that can be accessed in the mind of the hearer/reader—not a “real thing,” as images or conception of the thing denoted will vary depending on the person (cf. Frege, Russell)—then this statement made by Bertrand Russell seems false: The whole realm of non-entities,Continue reading “Discussing required Bertrand Russell”
Making aesthetic judgements about grape taffy
I have a specific taste and consistency lingering on my tongue: Sticky, vaguely brackish, fructose-esque. It is better than the memory of the grape cough drops I was forced at a young and impressionable age to hold in my mouth to alleviate illness: a cure, in my mind, more distasteful than the malady. This lingeringContinue reading “Making aesthetic judgements about grape taffy”
Notes on Law, Language and Memory
Law, though it be found written in stone, like the code of Hammurabi, or on the Internet, with its nanosecond updates, has about the same staying power as any other cultural expression. Law students are no fools. They do not spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to tie themselves to something they cannot manipulate. TheyContinue reading “Notes on Law, Language and Memory”
Devil’s Dictionary, College edition
Course: from French, course: race, racetrack. A forum for profuse sweating. Essay question: from French, essai: try. An attempt to satisfy the unsatisfiable. Hunger: sensation of physical need, usually occurring in conjunction with a scholastic urgency. “Intro to the study of” classes: In which one is taught a little about the subject at hand, thoughContinue reading “Devil’s Dictionary, College edition”
Aphasia
On the way back to my apartment, I see my parents have called twice. No message. I call back anyway. “Can you check on B?” Dad asks “She’s having one of her complicated migraines.” Complicated migraines, meaning the vasodialation of the vessels in her brain have depleted blood to certain regions of it, usually theContinue reading “Aphasia”
Vocab
The kitchen serves as a meeting place, which means I often sit here and wait for something to happen, such as Gunn wandering in to complain how much I try his patience. The other day he really shot himself in the foot, though. We were talking about the unfortunate name “Tristan Virgin,” who is aContinue reading “Vocab”
Botkin Creative 