cladking Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Martin Stower Wrote:
> -------------------------------------------------------
> > cladking Wrote:
> > -------------------------------------------------------
> > > Martin Stower Wrote:
> > > -------------------------------------------------------
> > > > No, I’ve come upon the fatal weakness of your
> > > > claim that definitions “are the starting point
> > > > of communication”. The objection (which is
> > > > strictly a logical one) applies irrespective of
> > > > the language.
> > >
> > > No, this is just another case of someone handing
> > > me a dictionary and telling me if I organize the
> > > words properly I'll think just like him.
> >
> > No, this is a case of your failure to think.
>
> I've been hung up the last several months on
> knowing what the word "runner" means.

Then you’re going to have trouble with any definition whose definiens includes this fairly common English word—and if you have trouble with this one, you’re liable to stumble over others also, so perhaps you should forget about definitions for now.

Heard of running before you can walk?

> Surely, you can tell me.

Which part of “I do not share your simple faith in what definitions can achieve” did you not understand? When you’ve found it, don’t ask me for a definition of it. I don’t do them.

> The word was translated from later writings (after
> the great pyramid building age) and may have been
> corrupted or confused. I don't even know what the
> word means in English so tracking it back to
> ancient Egyptian and then into the language of the
> pyramid builders might be impossible.
>
> It's an English translation of mafdet's title.

Title, or name? Name. I see that the etymology of m3fd.t is much disputed and I’m certainly not about to comment on it. Perhaps you should consult one of the “definitions set in stone” you’ve told us about.

Perhaps you’d like also to answer some of the questions in my last several posts.

M.