Truth and Linguistics

[kerravonsen]

Interesting quote from the book I'm currently reading(*):
Their [human] language is equally confusing. Who can believe what they say if every word has several meanings?

Which makes one wonder... for of course, in human languages, one can lie while telling the truth. Yet what a poor language it would be if words had only one meaning.

Does poetry lie in ambiguity? Or does poetry lie in ambiguity?

(*) "City of Pearl" by Karen Traviss

Comments

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It is! I also get tired of sexist societies being the norm in fantasy.

[kerravonsen]

And yet when people try to do the reverse, and write matriarchies (in SF or F), they usually look like oppressive patriarchies with the labels switched. Which is just as bad.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Agreed. That's sexist too. What's wrong with equality, as Bujold has in her Betan society? In my future (unwritten original novels) people are judged by their ability, not their sex.