Eduard,

Science is the study of the natural world.  The type of knowledge it can uncover is testable, is fruitful, explains and predicts diverse phenomena, provides the simplest (Occamian) explanation, and does not conflict with establish beliefs (unless it does more of the others as "compensation").  This is not my personal explanation, as I do not have one because a good definition of science should not have subjective definitions.

By the way, someone who is artful with language knows that repeatedly telling someone she shouldn't take offense means you'd like her to do just that.  If you believe you have a better command of English than 80% of native speakers, does that mean your intent was to be insulting?  I choose to believe that your weren't being deliberately insulting, which means that your command of language isn't as precise as you believe.  However, I could be wrong.  If only we could run a controlled experiment!

Susan

On Nov 23, 2010, at 6:18 AM, Eduard Hanganu wrote:

> Susan,
>  
> I have a couple of dictionaries at hand. I can look up words. What I asked you was for YOUR PERSONAL DEFINITION of science. What is science to you? Your definition of science seems to exclude grammar. So, again, what is your definition of science? One sentence or paragraph, please.
> No offense intended.
>  


> I learned English in a foreign country from dictionaries, textbooks, and PRESCRIPTIVE GRAMMARS, and I believe that I have a better command of English than more than 80 per cent of the "native" American users of  the English language. "Native" users of English "acquire" it in a non-prescriptive way. Is this why they cannot speak, read, and write in English?
>  

> Eduard 

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