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What is Toaq? (for linguists): Difference between revisions
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Can a language with Toaq's stated primary goal even exist? To prove that it can, we must write a complete [[parser]]. To do that, we must thoroughly develop the syntax and semantics of the language. A few Toaq speakers have taken an amateur interest in natural language semantics. A human-oriented language whose syntax is small and unambiguous turns out to be an attractive testbed for ''implementing'' semantics research. How many ideas from formal linguistics must we combine before our language can express anything we might want to say? | Can a language with Toaq's stated primary goal even exist? To prove that it can, we must write a complete [[parser]]. To do that, we must thoroughly develop the syntax and semantics of the language. A few Toaq speakers have taken an amateur interest in natural language semantics. A human-oriented language whose syntax is small and unambiguous turns out to be an attractive testbed for ''implementing'' semantics research. | ||
For Toaq to describe everyday situations, and for us to describe Toaq, we have to pick a theory of "events", a theory of "tense", a theory of "plurality/distributivity", et cetera. How many ideas from formal linguistics must we combine before our language can express anything we might want to say? Do they play nicely together in practice? If learning grammar means absorbing strict rules about scope and quantification, can humans learn to reliably produce correct sentences? In a way, we are determining if a language can be both human and formal. | |||
== Why bother? == | == Why bother? == | ||
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<table><tr><td>{{Deranize|pıunuım}}<br>''skin-star''<br>"freckle"</td></tr><tr><td>{{Deranize|tıqshoaı}}<br>''tile-wing''<br>"butterfly"</td></tr></table> | |||
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Toaq's secondary purpose is to be aesthetically pleasing. Its speakers are excited about language and language creation. Its phonology and lexicon are designed from scratch. Engaging with Toaq can mean anything from contributing software, to inventing interesting words, to making beautiful calligraphy. We are as indebted to Montague as we are to Tolkien. The language stretches across academia, art, and fantasy. | Toaq's secondary purpose is to be aesthetically pleasing. Its speakers are excited about language and language creation. Its phonology and lexicon are designed from scratch. Engaging with Toaq can mean anything from contributing software, to inventing interesting words, to making beautiful calligraphy. We are as indebted to Montague as we are to Tolkien. The language stretches across academia, art, and fantasy. | ||