Date:  Sun, 16 Nov 1997 17:22:03 -0500
From:  Gerald Cohen <gcohen[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UMR.EDU>
Subject: Language and Logic

  The recent discussion about language being logical has centered on the
double negatives, but there is much additional material that is relevant
here. Just a few examples:
1. English has the odd construction "many a," e.g. "Many a student will
flunk physics." Is this not
   illogical? (plural + "a")
2. Another odd construction: "time and again." If language is always
logical, how does one link "time" (a
   noun) with "again" (an adverb)? What about about "time and time again?
3. Why is "He took sick" permissible but not "He took ill"?
4. If it is logical to put the direct object in the accusative case in
German, why does German have about
   50 verbs that take a direct object in the dative? E.g. Er sieht mich
(He sees me; accusative case) but
   Er hilft mir (He helps me; dative case).

--Gerald Cohen

gcohen[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]umr.edu