FUNKNET Digest, Vol 40, Issue 8 - Alexander Gross' post

[Aviad Eilam]

As you asked, I took a look at your piece on linguistics.
Unfortunately, all I found there was a mix of distortions and non sequiturs,
based on a genuine misunderstanding of what linguists are interested in and what
they do. As someone who worked for years in translation and has also been
studying linguistics for a number of years, I found most of your arguments
simply bizarre.

The writing seems to follow both Godwin's Law:
"As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving
Nazis or Hitler approaches one"
and Benford's Law:
"Passion is inversely proportional to the amount of real information available."

Sadly, neither are indications of high intellectual standards.

---
Aviad Eilam
Department of Linguistics
University of Pennsylvania
619 Williams Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305
eilamavi at babel.ling.upenn.edu



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>    1. A request for assistance... (Alexander Gross2)
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2007 02:39:53 -0500
> From: "Alexander Gross2" <language at sprynet.com>
> Subject: [FUNKNET] A request for assistance...
> To: <funknet at mailman.rice.edu>
> Message-ID: <006a01c737af$2e5782c0$6501a8c0 at v7t0g4>
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>
> I'd be grateful to colleagues if you would be willing to take a look at a
> piece I wrote as part of a recently received commission.  It represents my
> best attempt so far to bring together and synthesize the three great passions
> of my life: Linguistics, Theatre, and Translation.  You'll find it at:
>
> http://language.home.sprynet.com/theatdex/weiss2.htm#ling
>
> This URL should take you to the portion of the piece dealing with
> Linguistics, but some of you might also want to scroll backwards and look at
> the sections on theatre and translation as well.
>
> I look forward to your comments and criticisms.
>
> Happy New Year and all the best to everyone!
>
> alex
>
>
>
>
> End of FUNKNET Digest, Vol 40, Issue 8
> **************************************
>