functionalist hypothesis?

[Jane A. Edwards]

I'm skeptical of Brian's hypothesis.

It seems to me that English does have words which describe
other emotions which "should not exist."  Some of the ones which
come to my mind are:
- vindictiveness
- vengefulness
- greed
- perversity

Language speaks of things it is useful to speak of.
The world might be a nicer place if such things didn't exist
but we should be cautious in assuming that therefore the language
will not speak of them.  It is useful to be warned of people who
are not nice.  Why wouldn't a language have words to express that?

-Jane Edwards