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The repertoire of this language is built up out of two sounds, A and B, which can be arranged in a variety of sequences following the combinatory rule X, nY, X. This means that every sequence must start with one of the two elements and carry on with n repetitions of the other, ending up with one further occurrence of the first element. This kind of rule allows the production of an infinite series of syntactically correct sequences. But Adam and Eve have a strictly finite repertoire which exactly fits the cultural units mentioned above. So their code works out as follows: |
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Furthermore, this code incorporates two all-purpose operators: |
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which can stand for Permission/Interdiction or, alternatively, Existence/ Nonexistence, and even denote such oppositions as Approval/Disapproval, and so forth. |
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There are no further syntactical rules, apart from the fact that, if two sequences are joined to each other, their cultural units are thus brought into reciprocal predication: BAAAB, ABBBBBA, for example, means 'the apple is red', but also 'red apple'. |
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Adam and Eve are fully competent at handling their Edenic language, yet there is one thing they find hard to form a clear idea of: the generative rule behind the sequences. They can grasp this intuitively, but with the consequence that the AA and BB sequences become anomalous. What is more, they fail to realize that other correct sequences could be granted. This is partly because they feel no particular need for them, since there is nothing else they want to put a name to. The world they find themselves living in is full, harmonious, and satisfying, so that they register no sense of crisis or of necessity. |
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Therefore the connotative chains referred to in (1) assume the following structures: |
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