To be or not to be ... is not a question in the invented language of E-Prime. TopTenz explains:
Another language constructed to make a philosophical point, E-Prime is simply a version of English that forbids all forms of the verb ‘to be’ (is, was, were, etc).
According to Alfred Korzybski, who promoted the language in his 1933 book Science and Sanity, E-Prime can be used to sharpen critical thinking and make ideas clearer. For example, in E-prime a person can’t say ‘This is an awful movie’: it must be rephrased as ‘I dislike this movie.’ ‘You’re wrong’ is also impossible: instead he must say ‘I disagree with you.’ Because of this, it’s easier for speakers and listeners distinguish fact from opinion.
On the other hand, following E-Prime to the letter becomes burdensome: ‘This is a flower’ must become something like ‘English speakers call this a flower.’ Today, E-Prime remains popular, but mostly just as an interesting thought exercise to improve clarity.
Read more about the Top 10 Invented Languages: Link
Comments (4)
All of this seems to indicate that there was no concept of a set to contain all sets, or terms that refer to a universal set or the bare fact of existing. These were not common ideas at the time these texts were written. But they may have been ideas which the texts attempt to describe in different ways.
E-prime makes you take responsibility for what you say. Rather than saying, "He's a jerk," you have to explain why you dislike the person in question.
Having been away from academe for more than two decades, though, I've gotten out of practice.
Are you kidding. There are probably 500 TmNT crazed boys to this one crazed TMNT Girl.
And who knew that there was a TMNT musical???? That's horrible.
She's definently a strong woman, you can give her that. I bet few people would even like to amdit that they've liked such things for a long period of time.
And the "Follow your heart" thing at the end...I needed that personally. I haven't felt confident in doing anything in months.
Now that I am older I can understand that TMNT was created by business men to make lots of cash, and they succeeded. It is not like Star Trek that has its own huge universe and futuristic view on the future of mankind. TMNT is nothing like that and makes no sense at all if you start to break down the concept in pieces. TMNT is more like pure crap created for boys under the age of 13 years to beg their parents to buy the toys for them.
It is probably something from her childhood that made an impact and she became addicted to TMNT, maybe she had no friends and the thought of four outcasts doing "cool" stuff together felt appealing so she wanted to become like them.
michele i love you even if you have funky mayo bacon pizza breath.