tlug: A thread unravelling (was: kanji or romaji for Japanese)

[tjhaslam <tjhaslam@example.com>]

JB and ST and others:

Scott`s general point--the `babel theory`--is correct. [1, 2]   The
competing tendencies you have been debating are sometimes usefully--though
not strictly `scientifically`  described as centripal and centrifugal.

The knockdown argument for his case is the history of language itself.
The forces at work are evolutionary: diversification is--and will be--a
continual result.  Cultural forces may for some groups at some times
encourage monological/monocultural language practices.  But this tendency
never reaches closure--never prevails.   Centripal has its considerable
short term societal advantages; centrifugal, in the long term, prevails.  

But consider this: 

Curiously enough, if the world does have a common dominating `language`
today, it`s not English: it`s M$.  Guess what side you`re on, baby.  Since
in the long run, M$ can`t prevail, I`d call it--eventually--the winning
side.  Amen, Brother Scott.  We (Linux users in general) have the
evoluntionary advantage, as it were.

[1 and 2]  BTW, all languages are--by their nature/in theory--translatable.
 Not so much POSIX as brain-ware compliant,  Don`t confuse translatability
with `sameness.`  BTW, also don`t confuse either (a) having some shared
words and phrases with sharing a language; or (b) the English-literate
international class with the majority of the worlds`s people.  That
everyone knows what `O.K.` or `tv` means is one deal; that they all somehow
know `English` is quite another.

Best to all,
TJH
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