I've read somewhere that English is one of the most "efficient" of written languages...more data can be expressed with fewer letters. The language seems to be adapted well to science and technical ideas. A common English word like "airplane" must be expressed in some languages descriptively, something like "machine that flies carrying people". Don't even start thinking about Welsh, for instance. Some simple words can be a hundred letters or more long, and utterly unpronouncable by anyone but a native. I also heard on NPR recently that archivists are worrying about data recording since the advent of the digital age. Magnetically-stored data only has a lifetime of perhaps fifteen to twenty years, and only a small portion of magnetically-archived data is being either printed-out on paper or converted to optical or other permanent storage media. They think that we may lose a large portion of humanities contemporary records as a result. Fascinating post, Rich. Chuck Rich wrote:
It is rather amazing to think that with only 26 letters and a smattering of punctuation, any thought, idea, feeling, emotion, sentiment or discovery can be set down for ALL future generations to consider, possibly enjoy, and hopefully benefit from (assuming the paper/papyrus/magnetic medium/etc. manages to survive until that red-giant phase happens along... :-) Rich
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