_Hellspark_

Sep 6 03:51 UTC 1991

An excerpt from Janet Kagan's _Hellspark_:

"To say 'I know' in Jenji, you must specify *how* you know.  You have a 
choice of degree -- firsthand experience, inference, hearsay, to name just
a few of the options -- and each tells your listener how reliable you
think your information is and why.  That, in turn, reflects on *your*
reliability.  The language is also backed up by strong cultural penalties
for using the wrong degree, and a religious belief that you may, by
lying, inadvertently create a truth that would do no one any good."

Griz

response 2 of 3:

Jul 7 18:08 UTC 1992

   'Course, that novel is *about* sociolinguistics and
communication (besides being a murder mystery).  It's
lots of fun, thought.