Unlocking the secret sounds of language

[Jan Tucker]

Richard,

Great questions! I had problems too with the discussion of "past-tense" and
the illustrations such as how thrilled the people are to see someone coming
down the path as some kind of example of living in the present only. Then
they do remember their parents, and grandparents. They certainly planned to
kill the missionary in the future during the full moon didn't they?



Jan

-----Original Message-----
From: Indigenous Languages and Technology
[mailto:ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU]On Behalf Of Richard Smith
Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 12:23 PM
To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Subject: Re: [ILAT] Unlocking the secret sounds of language


These are really insightful responses
I'm glad others are weighing these accepted practices
of members from this intrusive academia

I'm no linguist so I have a question.
Does the "lack" of a word for something mean it does not exist for a people?
I know where my "knee" is...but because the place behind the knee is unnamed
(except for some surgeons lingo) Does that place not exist?

Would people who have no words for past tense
be forced to live in a collective amnesia?

Will they then not "remember" the anthropologist when he visits again?
Just because they don't use past tense verbal expression?
If a child comes smiling and says: "you have popcorn?"
Wouldn't this mean its another way of expressing memory or past tense?

Maybe I'm not properly awed by Academia
I guess I just wonder sometimes
If the new sciences are not just refined systems of conquest
and ultimately...control.
richard


On 5/9/06 6:04 AM, "Jan Tucker" <jtucker at starband.net> wrote:

> In this article what caught my attention was that the only reason that was
> given for attending the "night school" was said to be getting together and
> popcorn and the reason for not attending was the concern that Everett was
> writing down the language [apparently not approved of by the people]. A
> clear preference for not doing so seemed to be expressed here YET the
> "missionary" now "ethnologists" is going back to bring in other's to
> "collect, process, unravel, unlock". Everett has clearly suggested that
the
> Pirahna stopped coming because of their concern for having the language
> written down. I think I'd take that as a serious determent against further
> "extractions".
>
> Jan
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Indigenous Languages and Technology
> [mailto:ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU]On Behalf Of Richard Zane Smith
> Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 1:42 PM
> To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
> Subject: Re: [ILAT] Unlocking the secret sounds of language (fwd)
>
>
> yes fascinating of course
> but what i find even more fascinating are these anthropologists!
> studying the Piraha mind like some NEW specimen,
> some unexplored mental territory to seize
> to collect,process,unravel,unlock, and file data on,
> to "reduce" another language to ink and paper writing
> and to wage proper war against any leading professors theories
> from within their lofty ivory towers of academia
> to proclaim the LATEST cutting edge conclusions
> yes
> very interesting critters these anthropologists
> i might have to get my own bug jar out
> and collect a few of these anthros.
> do a few experiments...
> hmm...what happens when you pull this?
> hmmm yes,very interesting...
> better write that one down...
> richard
>
> Richard Zane Smith
> 18474 S.Cayuga Rd.
> Wyandotte Oklahoma
>                                   74370