At 15:32 11.12.1996 +0000, Norm wrote:
 
 
>Which leads to the crucial question: Are some languages "better" than
>other languages?  Is there a "best" language?
 
'Inherently' no (sorry).
 
But  - languages are tools. They are used to communicate about the world. It
depends on the type of ´world´, which tool is most helpful. If we discuss
French philosophy, then it stands to reason that French is better suited
than,say, Chinese. If we discuss polar landscapes it would probably be
easier to do this using some Inuit language - German would not be equally
suitable because it can´t distinguish between as many types of snow.
 
But,  of course, this does not mean that one language is better than
another, just more suitable for a certain purpose. Is hammer better than a saw?
 
Burkhard
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Burkhard Leuschner   Paedagogische Hochschule Schwaebisch Gmuend   Germany
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