[Air-l] we need a new word?

[reuven shlozberg]

Ellis,

On Sat, 19 Mar 2005 14:38:26 -0800, "Ellis Godard" <egodard at csun.edu>
said:
> We
> should each pick different words, probably from among the many already
> existing ones, depending on our interests and tasks. Words don't have
> essential meanings, and meanings aren't constant. Language is fluid, and
> contextual. Any of the suggestions thus far might suffice for particular
> purposes, but not others.
> 

this may be a stupid question, but if we all use whatever different word
we individually prefer to denote one and the same referent, how can we
talk to each other about that referent without constantly talking past
each other?

Reuven Shlozberg
Political Science
University of Toronto