Je 07.21 atm 2006.06.25, Rex MAY skribis
> >
> >What this means is that when you introduce an "optional" feature, to
> >satisfy those speaking the language you also have to introduce a set
> >of rules that allows the language-manipulating part of the mind to
> >automagically make the right choice in the middle of conversation,
> >without interrupting the conversation; in other words, the choice has
> >to be made unconsciously. And even with a set of rules to make such
> >decisions, they have to be internalized by the would-be speaker
> >before they will function properly.
>
>I think you're right in part, here, but I think 'optionality' can 
>mean something
>more common than what you're talking about here.   Take sex.  Going with
>pre-generalized Eo, you're in this restaurant and you've been waiting.
>
>You: "Kie estas la kelnero?"
>
>Maitre d':  "Ne estas kelneroj cxi tie.  Ni havas nur kelnerinojn."
>
>You:  "Tre komike.  Kie estas la kelnerino?  Ekde nun, mi cxiam 
>diros 'gekelnero'.

I'm not too worried about this happening. "Kelnero" means "waiter, of 
either sex" -- a standard with all words denoting professions or 
crafts in Esperanto, at least in the early 21st century.

(Of course, in the lovely comic music video "Kelneroj" -- from 
"lesson" 16 of "Esperanto: Pasporto al la Tuta Mondo" -- both singing 
kelneroj are male: Miko Sloper and Steve Wagenseller.)


-- Don HARLOW
http://www.webcom.com/~donh/don/don.html
Opinions (in English): http://www.harlows.org/don/opinions/
Esperanto (in English): http://www.harlows.org/don/esperanto/
Literaturo (Esperante): http://donh.best.vwh.net/Esperanto/Literaturo