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Doesn't Goedel's incompleteness theorems imply that it is impossible to define all words using words, unless you have some axiomatic words that are not defined within the system?



Generally speaking, the number of words is discrete, not infinite, so I don't believe that Godel's theorems would apply here.

I'm not saying that new words aren't created, just that in a practical sense, unless you're creating new words to mess with someone trying to do this, it doesn't apply.

You have my most enthusiastic contrafribularities.


I don't think it applies here. With words you just end up with circular definitions.

With math a circular definition is unacceptable, and that when the theorem comes into play.


I would think circular definitions would be just as unacceptable with words.


They're not because we don't acquire language by definition of words (alone; sometimes at all; reading dictionaries comes along way down the road of language acquisition).


If I understand correctly, axiomatic words are exactly what's being counted here.


Ah, I misread the question. Thanks.




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