I’m at #ordcamp conference, chatting with a new friend about programming languages. (I actually find myself defending PHP. Come at me.)
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Replying to @mwichary
At some point during the conversation, I mention a book that I absolutely love: In The Land Of Invented Languages (http://inthelandofinventedlanguages.com/ ).
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Replying to @mwichary
It’s a fantastic journey through artificial languages – from Esperanto to Klingon – but not as much how they work, but *why were they made*.
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Replying to @mwichary
Specifically, what motivates people to embark on a voyage to try to create something new when it’s almost certain no one will ever use it.
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Replying to @mwichary
(Just like with professional comedy, the reasons are often darker and sadder – and humane – than I imagined.)
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Replying to @mwichary
I mention the book and move on. Then, a few hours later I stumble upon a small pile of obscure language books that someone left at a table.
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Replying to @mwichary
They catch my attention. I look through them, and then notice a Twitter handle of the owner of the pile.
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Replying to @mwichary
I think “This must be a cool person, I should say hi.” So I open Twitter and punch in the handle.
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Replying to @mwichary
And, as you already suspect, this happens to be
@arikaokrent… author of In The Land Of Invented Languages. She is at the same conference!!!1 reply 0 retweets 12 likes -
Replying to @mwichary
Marcin Wichary Retweeted Marcin Wichary
At this moment I show the kind of remarkable restraint I am a well-known paragon of:https://twitter.com/mwichary/status/825527671912267776 …
Marcin Wichary added,
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Luckily, I don’t scare Arika away, and we eventually meet! And chat. And she walks me through her book collection. Three highlights:
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Replying to @mwichary
Here’s a Klingon–Italian dictionary, which is an unusual pair! (Okay, stop looking at me. I’ll confess I know more Klingon than Italian.)pic.twitter.com/wTFwgAChYG
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Replying to @mwichary
Here’s a comparison of the languages of countries surrounding Baltic Sea – including my native tongue of Polish. (I really want this book.)pic.twitter.com/MG5qOEOU6Q
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