--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No important national language, at least…" description: "\"No important national language, at least in the Occidental world, has complete regularity of grammatical structure, nor is there a single logical categ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/edward-sapir-15133_categories_no-important-national-language-at-least_2530696.jpg" --- # No important national language, at least in the Occidental… ![“No important national language, at least in the Occidental world, has complete regularity of grammatical structure, nor is there a single logical category which is adequately and consistently handled in terms of linguistic symbolism.” quote by Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/edward-sapir-15133_categories_no-important-national-language-at-least_2530696.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/edward-sapir-15133_categories_no-important-national-language-at-least_2530696.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/edward-sapir-15133_categories_no-important-national-language-at-least_2530696.jpg) > “No important national language, at least in the Occidental world, has complete regularity of grammatical structure, nor is there a single logical category which is adequately and consistently handled in terms of linguistic symbolism.” [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. No language is perfectly regular; linguistic symbols cannot fully capture logic. **In simple terms:** Languages are imperfect and complex. Key Takeaway Accept linguistic ambiguity and adapt communication. Themes language complexity imperfection Mood analytical thoughtful Type academic philosophical When to use this quote - translation - language teaching - AI language models Key Concepts Linguistic relativity symbolic limitation Questions to Reflect On - How does linguistic irregularity affect learning? - Can technology overcome these symbolic limits? A Different Perspective May overlook advances in linguistic theory. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [National language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-language/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Symbolism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbolism/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [A common creation demands a common sacrifice, and perhaps not the least potent argument in favour of a constructed international language is the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/a-common-creation-demands-a-common-sacrifice-and-perhaps-not-the/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [National languages are all huge systems of vested interests which sullenly resist critical inquiry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/national-languages-are-all-huge-systems-of-vested-interests-which/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [It would, of course, be hopeless to attempt to crowd into an international language all those local overtones of meaning which are so dear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/it-would-of-course-be-hopeless-to-attempt-to-crowd-into-an/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [Both French and Latin are involved with nationalistic and religious implications which could not be entirely shaken off, and so, while they seemed for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/both-french-and-latin-are-involved-with-nationalistic-and-religious/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [These examples of the lack of simplicity in English and French, all appearances to the contrary, could be multiplied almost without limit and apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/these-examples-of-the-lack-of-simplicity-in-english-and-french-all/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [As a matter of fact, a national language which spreads beyond its own confines very quickly loses much of its original richness of content…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/as-a-matter-of-fact-a-national-language-which-spreads-beyond-its-own/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [“No one today is purely one thing. Labels like Indian, or woman, or Muslim, or American are not more than starting-points, which if followed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-said/no-one-today-is-purely-one-thing-labels-like-indian-or-woman-or/) [Edward W. Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-said/) > [“The range and variety of Chaucer's English did much to establish English as a national language. Chaucer also contributed much to the formation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-carter/the-range-and-variety-of-chaucer-s-english-did-much-to-establish/) [Ronald Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-carter/) > [Welsh is now almost a national language in Wales. The Scottish dialects are reviving to some extent. I don't think it's a major thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/welsh-is-now-almost-a-national-language-in-wales-the-scottish/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [English is a second language in most of the educated sectors of Europe and much of the world. But maybe in the future Chinese…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/english-is-a-second-language-in-most-of-the-educated-sectors-of/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The basis of any independent government is a national language, and we can no longer continue aping our former colonizers ... those who feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jomo-kenyatta/the-basis-of-any-independent-government-is-a-national-language-and-we/) [Jomo Kenyatta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jomo-kenyatta/) > [A national language is a band of national union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/a-national-language-is-a-band-of-national-union/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [As the numbers of native-born Europeans begin to fall, with their anemic fertility rates, will the aging Europeans become more magnanimous toward destitute newcomers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/as-the-numbers-of-native-born-europeans-begin-to-fall-with-their/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [“We’ve driven wedges between parents and children, between liberals and conservatives, between whites and ethnic groups, and between the religious and non religious. We’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-goddard/we-ve-driven-wedges-between-parents-and-children-between-liberals-and/) [Robert Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-goddard/) > [“In the twilight that was now the colour of dust, in the fury of horns that was a national language because honking had telegraphic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-joseph/in-the-twilight-that-was-now-the-colour-of-dust-in-the-fury-of-horns/) [Manu Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-joseph/) ## More by Edward Sapir > [Human beings do not wish to be modest; they want to be as expressive - that is, as immodest - as fear allows; fashion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/human-beings-do-not-wish-to-be-modest-they-want-to-be-as-expressive/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [A common allegiance to form of expression that is identified with no single national unit is likely to prove one of the most potent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/a-common-allegiance-to-form-of-expression-that-is-identified-with-no/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [A standard international language should not only be simple, regular, and logical, but also rich and creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/a-standard-international-language-should-not-only-be-simple-regular/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [The psychology of a language which, in one way or another, is imposed upon one because of factors beyond one's control, is very different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/the-psychology-of-a-language-which-in-one-way-or-another-is-imposed/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [French and German illustrate the misleading character of apparent grammatical simplicity just as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/french-and-german-illustrate-the-misleading-character-of-apparent/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [A common creation demands a common sacrifice, and perhaps not the least potent argument in favour of a constructed international language is the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/a-common-creation-demands-a-common-sacrifice-and-perhaps-not-the/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [A second type of direct evidence is formed by statements, whether as formal legends or personal information, regarding the age or relative sequence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/a-second-type-of-direct-evidence-is-formed-by-statements-whether-as/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [One of the glories of English simplicity is the possibility of using the same word as noun and verb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/one-of-the-glories-of-english-simplicity-is-the-possibility-of-using/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [Comparison of statements made at different periods frequently enable us to give maximal and minimal dates to the appearance of a cultural element or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/comparison-of-statements-made-at-different-periods-frequently-enable/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [No two languages are ever sufficiently similar to be considered as representing the same social reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/no-two-languages-are-ever-sufficiently-similar-to-be-considered-as-2/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [It is no secret that the fruits of language study are in no sort of relation to the labour spent on teaching and learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/it-is-no-secret-that-the-fruits-of-language-study-are-in-no-sort-of/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [Cultural anthropology is not valuable because it uncovers the archaic in the psychological sense. It is valuable because it is constantly rediscovering the normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/cultural-anthropology-is-not-valuable-because-it-uncovers-the-archaic/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [As a matter of fact, a national language which spreads beyond its own confines very quickly loses much of its original richness of content…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/as-a-matter-of-fact-a-national-language-which-spreads-beyond-its-own/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [Cultural anthropology is more and more rapidly getting to realize itself as a strictly historical science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/cultural-anthropology-is-more-and-more-rapidly-getting-to-realize/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [Language is the most massive and inclusive art we know, a mountainous and anonymous work of unconscious generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/language-is-the-most-massive-and-inclusive-art-we-know-a-mountainous/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) [Explore all 44 Edward Sapir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) ## More Categories quotes > [...the number of saintly men has not yet risen to the level where the census makes them a separate statistical category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stigler/the-number-of-saintly-men-has-not-yet-risen-to-the-level-where-the/) [George Stigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stigler/) > [As a politician - particularly as a politician in a coalition - you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/as-a-politician-particularly-as-a-politician-in-a-coalition-you/) [Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/) > [I've worked with jazz artists, country artists, classical artists, pop artists. I never wanted there to be categories, because when I was a kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-ve-worked-with-jazz-artists-country-artists-classical-artists-pop/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [ I don't think in national categories. For me it \[policy\] is about concepts and substance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-don-t-think-in-national-categories-for-me-it-policy-is-about/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [We don't need to complicate all the "reasons" behind our emotions. It's much simpler than that. Two categories .. good feelings, bad feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/we-don-t-need-to-complicate-all-the-reasons-behind-our-emotions-it-s/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [I put the truth out there, I put the historical facts into Hip Hop to show us how much history repeats itself and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/i-put-the-truth-out-there-i-put-the-historical-facts-into-hip-hop-to/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [I am devoting my lecture in this seminar to a discussion of the possibility that we are now entering a Jewish century, a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-a-siegel/i-am-devoting-my-lecture-in-this-seminar-to-a-discussion-of-the/) Martin A. Siegel > [A top World War II ace once said that fighter pilots fall into two broad categories: those who go out to kill and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-top-world-war-ii-ace-once-said-that-fighter-pilots-fall-into-two/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No, I don't like legend. I mean, I don't like the category. And to begin with, to me, a legend is something that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/no-i-don-t-like-legend-i-mean-i-don-t-like-the-category-and-to-begin/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [ I read so ravenously that I would read through whole categories. I was crazy about reading biographies. \[...\] I think biographies are very urgent… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-read-so-ravenously-that-i-would-read-through-whole-categories-i-was/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [... the notions category and functor were not formulated or put in print until the idea of a natural transformation was also at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saunders-mac-lane/the-notions-category-and-functor-were-not-formulated-or-put-in-print/) Saunders Mac Lane > [Last guy I was interested in turned out to be an incestuous necrophiliac," she said. "So no, not currently dating, and definitely not doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/last-guy-i-was-interested-in-turned-out-to-be-an-incestuous/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Culture exists and evolves to relegate to habit categories of interactions the constant conscious reference to which would make human interaction impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/culture-exists-and-evolves-to-relegate-to-habit-categories-of/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) Browse all 927 Categories quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No important national language, at least in the Occidental world, has complete regularity of grammatical structure, nor is there a single logical category which is adequately and consistently handled in terms of linguistic symbolism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Sapir" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/no-important-national-language-at-least-in-the-occidental-world-has/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Categories" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/no-important-national-language-at-least-in-the-occidental-world-has/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/edward-sapir-15133_categories_no-important-national-language-at-least_2530696.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/edward-sapir-15133_categories_no-important-national-language-at-least_2530696.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/edward-sapir-15133_categories_no-important-national-language-at-least_2530696.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No important national language, at least in the Occidental world, has complete regularity of grammatical…” — Edward Sapir", "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": "Edward Sapir", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No important national language, at least...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/no-important-national-language-at-least-in-the-occidental-world-has/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/no-important-national-language-at-least-in-the-occidental-world-has/#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 } } ] } ```