Talk:Language

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The only thing in life is language. Not love. Not anything else.

The common faults of American language are an ambition of effect, a want of simplicity, and a turgid abuse of terms.

In language, the ignorant have prescribed laws to the learned.

Language is the picture and counterpart of thought.

Verbing weirds language.

Thou whoreson Zed! thou unnecessary letter!

Evolution teaches us the original purpose of language was to ritualize men's threats and curses, his spells to compel the gods; communication came later.

• "The language of friendship is not words but meanings." --Henry David Thoreau

• "Two languages in one head? No-one can live at that speed!";
  "But the Dutch speak four languages and smoke marijuana." --Eddie Izzard

• "Language is not only an instrument of communication or even of knowledge, but also an instrument of power. One seeks not only to be understood but also to be believed, obeyed, respected, distinguished." --Pierre Bourdieu

• "He who is ignorant of other languages is ignorant of his own." --Goethe

• "In the commerce of speech use only coin of gold and silver." --Joseph Joubert

• "Felicity, not fluency, of language is a merit." --Whipple

• "There is no real distinction between 'language' and 'dialect.'" --Matthews