Re: virus: Question

Robin Faichney (r.j.faichney@stir.ac.uk)
Fri, 6 Jun 1997 11:26:00 +0100


Grant Callaghan wrote:
>On Thu, 5 Jun 1997, Robin Faichney wrote:
>>
>> There is all the difference in the world between formal
>> and natural languages. But this isn't the place to
>> pursue the issue, as it has zilch to do with memetics.
>>
>Only if you think that words and sentence structure are not memes.

Now that would be stupid, wouldn't it? So stupid,
in fact, I assumed you'd guess it wasn't what I
meant. As usual, in such cases, I assumed too
much.

Both natural and formal languages are composed of
(and are) memes. But not all issues between memes
are usefully addressed via memetics -- otherwise
that would be the tool for absolutely every conceptual
problem. However, I stand ready to be corrected as
to the relevance of memetics in this particular case.
Please tell me, if you can, how it helps in comparing
natural and formal languages.

Robin