For the discussion of language mechanics, grammar, vocabulary, trends, and other such linguistic topics, in english and other languages.
Moderators: gmalivuk, Moderators General, Prelates
by scratch123 » Wed Aug 17, 2011 5:00 pm UTC
For example:
0/1
positive/negative
hot/cold
man/woman
inside/outside
up/down
space/time (opposites in computational complexity theory)
privacy/security
time/accuracy (approximation algorithms)
Also how are these groups of opposite words related. For example are the words "space" or "time" more related to 0 or 1. The last 3 in the list are considered tradeoffs so how many tradeoffs in general exist in the world. In general how similar are groups of opposite words to one another.
-
scratch123
-
- Posts: 229
- Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:18 pm UTC
by Makri » Wed Aug 17, 2011 6:56 pm UTC
I'd like to say their number is infinity, although that can't really be. The thing is, there is no point whatsoever in trying to denumerate them, because the human brain is extremely good at creatively finding patterns and analogy.
¬□(∀♀(∃♂(♀❤♂)⟷∃♂(♂❤♀)))
-
Makri
-
- Posts: 652
- Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:57 pm UTC
by Lazar » Wed Aug 17, 2011 6:58 pm UTC
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that this is impossible to quantify. And even if it were possible, it would be pointless.
There was also a large horse in the room, taking up most of it.
-
Lazar
-
- Posts: 1153
- Joined: Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:49 pm UTC
- Location: Massachusetts
by xkcdfan » Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:36 pm UTC
Man and woman aren't actually opposites, although many dyadic, binary cisgender people would like to believe they are.
-

xkcdfan
-
- Posts: 115
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:10 am UTC
by Shivahn » Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:18 am UTC
Neither are privacy and security.
-

Shivahn
-
- Posts: 2145
- Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 6:17 am UTC
-
by Iulus Cofield » Thu Aug 18, 2011 5:35 am UTC
This is kind of the insoluble problem that brought down the attempts at 'philosophical languages', no?
-

Iulus Cofield
- WINNING
-
- Posts: 2859
- Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:31 am UTC
by gaurwraith » Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:31 am UTC
And also, "opposites" depends too much on the context..
I am a lvl 89 sword barb
-

gaurwraith
-
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:56 pm UTC
by wannabe » Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:49 pm UTC
How about narrowing the inquiry to words that have more that one meaning and so have more than one opposite. Though, as someone stated, whether something is truly an opposite is debatable. Also not really quantifiable, but funner!
pro - con
pro - amateur
blows - sucks
blows(is terrible) - rocks(is awesome)
straight - gay
straight - crooked
up(direction) - down
up(operational) - down
Disclaimer: I am not a scientist.
-

wannabe
-
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 7:09 pm UTC
- Location: Soooooooo. Caaaaaaaaal.
by The Mockingbird » Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:14 pm UTC
Finding all the pairs is either possible or impossible, but I'm not sure which one.

-
The Mockingbird
-
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2011 4:12 pm UTC
Return to Language/Linguistics
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest