Fran, with 'linear', you surely meant is that speech has a one-dimensional progression, with words (and voices within words) following upon each other. Now the difficulty is less that what words are to describe is multi-dimensional, given that single words can describe three-dimensional objects ("duck") or even four-dimensional ones ("history"), but that what is to be described may branch out and loop back, have a million nodes, and you have to string it all up on a single thread. (While what you really meant goes beyond that I presume: the problem of describing things and words with no good handy words for it.)
Now while I have to disagree with JakeS on 'linear' ('linear' is not just a mathematical term, it also has a general meaning of 'line-like', and used so in many fields; say just the other day I mentioned Linear Pottery Culture) there is the thing that we see a lot of technical terms used loosely, improperly, or senselessly. In this instance, I deduced what you (Fran) meant from the context and my prior awareness of this problem with language, and not from the words you used.
However, when reading someone trying to describe a concept new to me, what's more trying to introduce a new philosophy of everything, such loose use of technical terminology is an insurmountable obstacle. (And an annoyance.) The text will not make sense. Or, one will get the impression of shifting images, and from that of the incoherent thinking of the author. Or, one will guess that the author himself doesn't understand at least he technical terms he uses, or worse, not even what he means to say.
'Dimension', 'energy' and 'linear' are among the most misused terms. So we with a technical education have our triggers, to explain JakeS's reaction. *Traitor*, n. A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
Since all people are more-than just an education and free to use language, there should be no limit to what terms anyone here can use. After all, rotten oil companies and the msm misappropriate the terms every minute of our lives and ´everyone´ here understands what they mean.
P.S. to DoDo: It feels bad that the gnomes on the previous thread did not extend the courtesy of reading or trying to understand a new poster, but Jake S. was goaded on and now it´s being helped out, after insulting Fran and posting a far-from-genuine apology. Not fair, not honorable. Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena.
This would be an interesting subject for discussion, but not in your current emotional state as expressed by your several recent comments in this thread. Like poemless, I kindly ask you to stand back a bit, like many others managed earlier today. *Traitor*, n. A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
