As a matter of fact, a national language which spreads beyond its own confines very quickly loses much of its original richness of content and is in no better case than a constructed language.

  • -- Edward Sapir 爱德华·萨皮尔

事实上,一种超越其自身范围的民族语言,很快就会失去其原有的丰富内容,其效果并不比一种建构的语言好。

相关名言

These examples of the lack of simplicity in English and French, all appearances to the contrary, could be multiplied almost without limit and apply to all national languages.

英语和法语中缺乏简单性的这些例子,表面上都相反,几乎可以无限地增加,并适用于所有的民族语言。

Our country's national crime is lynching. It is not the creature of an hour, the sudden outburst of uncontrolled fury, or the unspeakable brutality of an insane mob.

我国的国家犯罪是私刑。它不是一个小时的产物,不是突然爆发的无法控制的愤怒,也不是一个疯狂的暴民说不出的暴行。

If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things.

名不正,则言不顺。

Theologians may quarrel, but the mystics of the world speak the same language.

神学家可能会争吵,但世界上的神秘主义者说着同样的语言。