Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Seiichi MYOGA]

I think we can rewrite (1) as (2) without changing meaning.

(1) Our sleeping hours are no less free from language than our waking ones — language is even a medium in which our dreams are conveyed.
(F. J. Newmeyer, The Politics of Linguistics)
(2) Our sleeping hours are as free from language as our waking ones — language is even a medium in which our dreams are conveyed.

Are you of the same opinion?

Thank you in advance
Seiichi MYOGA

[CP]

No. (1) implies that both waking and sleeping are full of language, which is true, while (2) implies that both waking and sleeping are empty of language, which is false.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[Seiichi MYOGA]

Dear CP,

I appreciate your help and comments.

Can I ask one more question for this thread?

Supposing we can use "as ... as" to convey the idea that both waking and sleeping are full of language (as (1) implies) , how can we say it?

(1) Our sleeping hours are no less free from language than our waking ones — language is even a medium in which our dreams are conveyed.

Seiichi MYOGA

[CP]

Try this:

Our sleeping hours are as full of language as our waking hours are � language is a medium in which even our dreams are conveyed.

(Note the new place for "even.")
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb