Another Short History of Linguistics (52)

The development of mathematics; the scientific language is simplification. If you don’t trust simplification, then many calculation could not be achieved. For instance the multiplication is simplifying the addition, equation is simplifying a group of mathematic sentences and calculus is simplifying unlimited calculation. In this way, Leibniz is a great expert, he invent mechanic computer was intending simplify the calculation process, he was also the inventor of calculus, his idea of characteristica universalis or semantic primitive is simplifying the expression system of humankind, although it was inherited from Descartes.

Yet the grammar acts in a diametrically opposite way. The grammar is going to make the expressing system complex. I don’t deny some of grammar could be useful such as SVO order. But in most case, grammar is making our expression complex. Such as plural and tense. Here I just talk about plural.

The grammar said, if plural, we should put (s) to the noun (regular). The reason is when the number is larger than one, a singular noun turned to be plural. There are many scholar have argue this, if the number changed shall it changed the quality of this noun as a different thing? But no one give a good answer to this question. Now I have another question: what about a number smaller than one. I got so many answers, linguists insist, that except one, every number need to put the (s) on the following noun. While scientist believes if the number less than one, you have to regard it as one, for the expression is 1/3 of (one) apple. So every time, when we express a number less than one, we have regard it as singular. This idea was written on my son’s text book, it could be the standard answer, no matter how the linguists argue.

My question is, what if we are talking about variable, for instance (1+(-1/2)ⁿ)? Do you put the (s) on the following noun or not? For the number can be changed if the n is even number, it large than 1, if it is odd number, it smaller than one. Another case is about the question and answer between teacher and student. A teacher ask the student: “365 days are how many year(s)?” Do you put the (s) or not? Put (s) you are illegal, don’t put (s), it is one year, that is to say, the teacher tell the student answer. That is to say, in the case of ‘five books’ the meaning of plural is double expressed. In the expression of ‘five books’ the ‘five’ tells us it is plural while the (s) tell us it is plural again. Just because this double express made the dilemma that the teacher could not ask a proper question to the student. Without the (s), the teacher can confidently ask the student ‘365 day is how many year?’

Now let’s think about in a different way, what if we abolish the plural and singular from English? That is to say, we never put any (s) after and noun, do we understand each other? Yes of course we can. That is to say, the plural (s) is but a trouble maker, without it, we can make clearer and easier expression.

Now let’s think about how this symbol (s) emerged in the mind of ancient people? The explanation would be that in ancient time, when hunting animals, people only cared about one or more than one. Later, they found that sometimes, by changing the vowel they can easily express the idea of one or more than one, for instance, goose and geese, tooth and teeth. Later when linguists intervention the development of language, they fabricated a new type of noun. They claimed that there were two types of noun, one is singular, and the other is plural. They put (s) to every regular noun to bring about what they said. Then the idea of number in a sentence that to describe noun had doubled. In fact, the irregular noun is but the ancient people express the meaning of more than one in an easy way. Comparing with goose and gooses, tooth and toothes one may find both words have to utter an extra (s). It proved a rule of language science that people in the world want a language that sending more information but costing less action, sound and energy.