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On the other hand, airplanes do fly. But I guess that just reinforces the point that language is a map, not the territory, and natural language in particular is
by Sharlin 4y ago
On the other hand, airplanes do fly. But I guess that just reinforces the point that language is a map, not the territory, and natural language in particular is full of inconsistencies and fuzzy boundaries between poorly defined categories. English happened to evolve so that it ended up using the same word for the thing both winged creatures and airplanes do, but only living creatures swim, boats and ships and submarines do not. In other languages, submarines do swim.
- dotancohen 4y ago> On the other hand, airplanes do fly. In my language, the verb that airplanes do is different than the verb that birds and insects do. As like the submarine, it is based on a different physical mechanism than are the natural animals in that space. For that matter, in English, what is the verb that submarines do? Surely it's not "sail".
- Sharlin 4y agoSubmarines do dive, but only when moving vertically downward. I don't think there is a single verb for what submarines do, they can move, travel, maneuver, navigate, or operate (underwater) depending on context.
- dotancohen 4y agoI see, thank you.
- namibj 4y agoFloat?