--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We decipherers cannot afford to be as…" description: "\"We decipherers cannot afford to be as picky as the linguist, who can always run back to a native speaker for a few more forms.\" — E. J. W. Barber" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/e-j-w-barber-54904_form_we-decipherers-cannot-afford-to-be-as-pi_3011301.png" --- # We decipherers cannot afford to be as picky as the… ![“We decipherers cannot afford to be as picky as the linguist, who can always run back to a native speaker for a few more forms.” quote by E. J. W. Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/e-j-w-barber-54904_form_we-decipherers-cannot-afford-to-be-as-pi_3011301.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/e-j-w-barber-54904_form_we-decipherers-cannot-afford-to-be-as-pi_3011301.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/e-j-w-barber-54904_form_we-decipherers-cannot-afford-to-be-as-pi_3011301.png) > “We decipherers cannot afford to be as picky as the linguist, who can always run back to a native speaker for a few more forms.” [E. J. W. Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-w-barber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Decipherers must accept imperfect data; unlike linguists, they cannot always consult native speakers for clarification. **In simple terms:** Decipherers work with limited info, unlike linguists. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty in analysis. Themes uncertainty analysis communication Mood analytical pragmatic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - cryptanalysis - archaeology - historical research - language reconstruction Key Concepts epistemology information theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle ambiguous data? - What strategies improve accuracy without native speakers? A Different Perspective Limited data can lead to errors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decipherers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decipherers-4830596/) [Decipherers Afford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decipherers-afford-4830595/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Linguist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linguist/) [Linguist Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linguist-run-4830597/) [Linguists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linguists/) [Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native/) [Picky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picky/) [Picky Linguist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picky-linguist-4830594/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Speakers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speakers/) ## Related quotes > [I'm certainly not a linguist. I learned what languages I could learn in order to read books and I can't really speak them. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/i-m-certainly-not-a-linguist-i-learned-what-languages-i-could-learn/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [The job of the linguist, like that of the biologist or the botanist, is not to tell us how nature should behave, or what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arika-okrent/the-job-of-the-linguist-like-that-of-the-biologist-or-the-botanist-is/) [Arika Okrent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arika-okrent/) > [You might be a cunning linguist, but I am a master debater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/you-might-be-a-cunning-linguist-but-i-am-a-master-debater/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [To money, the finest linguist in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minna-antrim/to-money-the-finest-linguist-in-the-world/) [Minna Antrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minna-antrim/) > [I feel such a difference between a philologist/linguist and a linguaphile as, say, a choreographer and a ballerina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-lomb/i-feel-such-a-difference-between-a-philologist-linguist-and-a/) [Kató Lomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-lomb/) > [“The language acquisation of a child is also a miracle”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aliyu-mustaph/the-language-acquisation-of-a-child-is-also-a-miracle/) [Aliyu mustaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aliyu-mustaph/) > [“Miracles are real if you believe in it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aliyu-mustaph/miracles-are-real-if-you-believe-in-it/) [Aliyu mustaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aliyu-mustaph/) > [“Miracles are semiotics signs and wonders of ALLAH.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aliyu-mustaph/miracles-are-semiotics-signs-and-wonders-of-allah/) [Aliyu mustaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aliyu-mustaph/) > [You don't talk to a linguist without having what you say taken down and used in evidence against you at some point in time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crystal/you-don-t-talk-to-a-linguist-without-having-what-you-say-taken-down/) [David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/) > [“I’m not a linguist, but do you ever think there’s something wrong with the things we do and don’t have words for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoon-ha-lee/i-m-not-a-linguist-but-do-you-ever-think-there-s-something-wrong-with/) [Yoon Ha Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoon-ha-lee/) > [Although a linguist, I was always interested in, and fascinated by, Stephen's explanations of his work and proud of his discoveries and achievements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/although-a-linguist-i-was-always-interested-in-and-fascinated-by/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [ “I personally never expected anything of Obama, and wrote about it before the 2008 primaries. I thought it was smoke and mirrors \[...\] I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-personally-never-expected-anything-of-obama-and-wrote-about-it/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [A cunning linguist puts his money where his mouth is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rock-cowles/a-cunning-linguist-puts-his-money-where-his-mouth-is/) [Rock Cowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rock-cowles/) > [“The last blowing of the trumpet will the last miracle to mankind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aliyu-mustaph/the-last-blowing-of-the-trumpet-will-the-last-miracle-to-mankind/) [Aliyu mustaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aliyu-mustaph/) > [“I believe in miracles because am a believer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aliyu-mustaph/i-believe-in-miracles-because-am-a-believer/) [Aliyu mustaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aliyu-mustaph/) ## More by E. J. W. Barber > [The simplest kind of decision is binary: that is, the question can be answered, in principle at least, by either yes or no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-w-barber/the-simplest-kind-of-decision-is-binary-that-is-the-question-can-be/) [E. J. W. Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-w-barber/) > [Clothing, right from our first direct evidence twenty thousand years ago, has been the handiest solution to conveying social messages visually, silently, continuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-w-barber/clothing-right-from-our-first-direct-evidence-twenty-thousand-years/) [E. J. W. Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-w-barber/) > [So powerful, in fact, is simple string in taming the world to human will and ingenuity that I suspect it to be the unseen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-w-barber/so-powerful-in-fact-is-simple-string-in-taming-the-world-to-human/) [E. J. W. Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-w-barber/) > [The Japanese garden is a very important tool in Japanese architectural design because, not only is a garden traditionally included in any house design,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-w-barber/the-japanese-garden-is-a-very-important-tool-in-japanese/) [E. J. W. Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-w-barber/) > [Unlike modern military codes, ancient texts are almost never purposely misleading, purposely scrambled. ... indeed, literacy was so uncommon until classical times that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-w-barber/unlike-modern-military-codes-ancient-texts-are-almost-never-purposely/) [E. J. W. Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-w-barber/) [Explore all 6 E. J. W. Barber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-w-barber/) ## More Form quotes > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [There cannot be any communication except through form. If there is no form, you cannot create emotion in the spectator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-resnais/there-cannot-be-any-communication-except-through-form-if-there-is-no/) [Alain Resnais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-resnais/) > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) [Browse all 12,984 Form quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We decipherers cannot afford to be as picky as the linguist, who can always run back to a native speaker for a few more forms.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E. J. W. Barber" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-w-barber/we-decipherers-cannot-afford-to-be-as-picky-as-the-linguist-who-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Form" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-w-barber/we-decipherers-cannot-afford-to-be-as-picky-as-the-linguist-who-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/e-j-w-barber-54904_form_we-decipherers-cannot-afford-to-be-as-pi_3011301.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/e-j-w-barber-54904_form_we-decipherers-cannot-afford-to-be-as-pi_3011301.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/e-j-w-barber-54904_form_we-decipherers-cannot-afford-to-be-as-pi_3011301.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We decipherers cannot afford to be as picky as the linguist, who can always run back to a native speaker for…” — E. J. W. Barber", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "E. J. W. Barber", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-w-barber/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We decipherers cannot afford to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-w-barber/we-decipherers-cannot-afford-to-be-as-picky-as-the-linguist-who-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-w-barber/we-decipherers-cannot-afford-to-be-as-picky-as-the-linguist-who-can/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```