#nat

A common allegiance to form of expression that is identified with no single national unit is likely to prove one of the most potent symbols of the freedom of the human spirit that the world has yet known. ↗

— Edward Sapir

#common #expression #form #freedom #human

A second type of direct evidence is formed by statements, whether as formal legends or personal information, regarding the age or relative sequence of events in tribal history made by the natives themselves. ↗

— Edward Sapir

#direct #events #evidence #formal #formed

English, once accepted as an international language, is no more secure than French has proved to be as the one and only accepted language of diplomacy or as Latin has proved to be as the international language of science. ↗

— Edward Sapir

#diplomacy #english #french #international #international language

It would, of course, be hopeless to attempt to crowd into an international language all those local overtones of meaning which are so dear to the heart of the nationalist. ↗

— Edward Sapir

#course #crowd #dear #heart #hopeless

National languages are all huge systems of vested interests which sullenly resist critical inquiry. ↗

— Edward Sapir

#huge #inquiry #interests #languages #national

So far as the advocates of a constructed international language are concerned, it is rather to be wondered at how much in common their proposals actually have, both in vocabulary and in general spirit of procedure. ↗

— Edward Sapir

#both #common #concerned #constructed #far

The attitude of independence toward a constructed language which all national speakers must adopt is really a great advantage, because it tends to make man see himself as the master of language instead of its obedient servant. ↗

— Edward Sapir

#advantage #attitude #because #constructed #great

The supposed inferiority of a constructed language to a national one on the score of richness of connotation is, of course, no criticism of the idea of a constructed language. ↗

— Edward Sapir

#constructed #course #criticism #idea #inferiority

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. ↗

— Edward Sapir

#appearances #apply #contrary #could #english

Beginning with adolescence, my political formation was oriented in the ideological direction of Marxism. It was natural, being that my thinking was influenced by an atmosphere of active critical resistance. That was the way it was during all of the dictatorship and up to the Revolution of 1974. ↗

— Jose Saramago

#adolescence #atmosphere #beginning #being #critical