Anybody here from Tlon?

[kilzok7]

Sometimes I wonder...

For those interested in alternate realities and various ways to look at reality... may I suggest reading "Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius" from the collection "Labyrinths" by Jorge Luis Borges.

For those who have read it (if any)- What do you think? Are we on our way to becoming Tlon, as suggested in the postscript?

Also, I would appreciate it if any of you could translate "Orbis Tertius" for me... (Why won't those dead languages just die already?!?!?!? )

[zelazny]

hmmm, maybe it's time for uncle state_vector's dead language lessons.

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Sure the universe is a great place, but if it wasn't here, no-one would miss it.

[state_vector]

~~VECTOR'S EZ-LATIN~~

C'mon, what's your pro'm?

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[state_vector]

ORBIS TERTIUS = Third sphere/orbit/circle

As it concerns why dead languages do not die already:
1) Greek and Latin language, and the relative literature, is the cradle of the Western civilization (and all of us remember our cradle with some nostalgy, don't we?)
2) These languages do survive within modern european languages (except computer science, scientific language is almost exclusively based upon these languages).
3) Greek won't die, as long as I speak it.


By Vector



[This message has been edited by state_vector (edited September 07, 2001).]

[erisesoteric]

When yer speaking ancient greek... how do you know if you've got the pronunciation right?

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The Neil & Neal Show

That's our eris! Shy, reserved, prone to pounding helpless arachnids... ~ 5Cats

[state_vector]

Which pronunciation? The homeric, the classic or the hellenistic?

In case you're interested, I have the post-hellenistic, pro-byzantine pronunciation (lol)


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[kilzok7]

Thank you, pp. Oops, I mean, I. Oops, I mean vector...

Ok, ok, ok, so we DO need ancient languages. Sheesh.

So HAS anybody read "Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius" or any other Borges for that matter? I know this isn't a literature forum, but I thought it could be interesting...

The interesting thing about Borges- was he making the whole thing up, or is there really a "First Encyclopedia of Tlon"? Where does the fiction start/end?

[SHATOUSHKA]

fiction starts with consciousness.

about your book there, kilz, i am not sure if i have read anything by him....but you have proved your case and i will see to it that i do.

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General Philosophy

[kilzok7]

It wasn't meant to be a reading assignment... I was just curious is all...

[SHATOUSHKA]

i agree with vector on why dead languages won't die.

here's a common line i dedicate for this thread:

et lux perpetua luceat eis.


don't forget your roots.

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General Philosophy