Spikosauropod
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Re: Vocabulary
The first use of the term is buried somewhere in all these threads. I have forgotten where.
The reason why we adopted the paulian taxonomy was to avoid the issue of canonicity. We never say that an item either is or is not an object. We merely classify it according to what we know about the original prop and how closely the item conforms to our knowledge. To be honest, a 100% paulian object is impossible; but when the status of an object is never contested, we tend to call it paulian. The best example of such an object is the scissors. There was only pair of scissors manufactured that is the correct size and shape. A pair of scissors is either correct or it is not.
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9/28/2008, 6:45 pm
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Ricas Kibu
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Re: Vocabulary
Thanks for the explanations. Nice to know the history of the taxonomy too.
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10/2/2008, 1:50 pm
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Spikosauropod
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Re: Vocabulary
Since there is apparently a distinction among levels of paulinity, I am proposing that we adopt a scale within a scale that describes this distinction.
An object is paulian if the plausible number of manufacturers or the plausible number of styles has been narrowed to one. Therefore, if an object is definitely manufactured by a certain manufacturer but there is more than 1 plausible style, it will be called paulian. Also, if it has been narrowed down to a certain style, but there is more than one plausible manufacturer, it will be called paulian.
The magnifying glass is a good example of the first situation. We know that it is manufactured by Bausch and Lomb, but there are at least two likely candidates for the exact style: a marbled bone style, and a light marbled brown style. The comb is a good example of the second situation. There are two distinct manufacturers who make exactly the same comb: Aristocrat and Contessa. The manufacturers are different but the combs are almost indistinguishable.
I am proposing that a paulian object with more than one manufacturer would be called PaulianM. A paulian object with more than one style would be called paulianS. If the exact number of manufacturers or styles is known, a number will be inserted. Therefore, a paulian object with precisely 2 plausible manufacturers would be called paulian2M. The comb is a paulian2M object.
A paulian object with precisely one manufacturer and precisely one style, like the scissors, would still be called just paulian.
An object that has both multiple plausible manufacturers and multiple plausible styles would still be called paulesque.
All paulian objects can be called just paulian in informal speech. The paulianM and paulianS classifications would be used only for formal classification purposes.
And, yes, I do enjoy confusing people. Hey, I’m a math instructor!
Last edited by Spikosauropod, 10/23/2008, 7:56 pm
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10/23/2008, 7:54 pm
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Ricas Kibu
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Re: Vocabulary
I've been thinking about this, and (not to step on your toes Spikosauropod) thought I'd suggest an extention to the above paulian scale.
What about using the mono- and poly- prefixes to distinguish between objects with one manufactor/style and those with more than one? Using your examples, Spikosauropod, the scissors would be monopaulian, and the comb and magnifying glass are polypaulian.
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11/6/2008, 4:07 pm
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Spikosauropod
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Re: Vocabulary
You are not stepping on my toes at all. I will take it into advisement.
One problem I see is that we have already started using the prefix bi- (as in bipaulian) to signify an object that takes two definite forms in the show. For example, the glasses take one form in the first scenes and a different form in the last scene with Dr Ruber and Lee Bridgewater. By natural extension, an object that took several forms in the show would be polypaulian.
What we are looking for is a qualifier to distinguish between objects like the scissors that have only one plausible facsimile and objects like the magnifier and comb that are represented exactly once in the show but have at least two plausible facsimiles in the world of tangible goods. In the scale I am proposing, an object that has two definite forms in the show would be bipaulian and an object that takes only one form in the show, but for which there are two plausible facsimiles in the real world of tangible goods would be polyian2S or paulian2M.
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11/7/2008, 4:41 pm
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Ricas Kibu
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Re: Vocabulary
Well, I wasn't aware of bi- and poly- being used already.
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11/8/2008, 10:08 am
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Spikosauropod
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Re: Vocabulary
I updated the vocabulary page. Let me know if I missed anything.
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11/12/2009, 2:51 am
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Cattrina
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Re: Vocabulary
So the world Almanac is Paulistic AND infrapaulistic at the same time?
The shirt is not totally unknown anymore. And you use the term "semipaulian" in at least two occations :P
Do we need a defination for items that we have good screenshots or inventory images of, but we do not know what the maker or brand is, I mean the wrist watch... it´s not confirmed to be an Bulova... so does that mean it is paulesque?
I would also make the "trivially" ones "considered not to be collectibles" or "not to be interesting" instead of "not important".
Last edited by Cattrina, 11/13/2009, 2:32 pm
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11/13/2009, 2:06 pm
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Spikosauropod
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Re: Vocabulary
I fixed the first paulistic entry.
The shirt is known, but we do not have positive identification as to the brand and style. For that reason, I have designated it as paulesque. I don’t think I have it anywhere as semipaulian. If I do, let me know exactly where.
The watch might be considered paulesque. However, since we know exactly what it “looks” like, I have designated it as paulian. It’s a gray area.
I have considered newer, more specific, designations such as paulian2M for an item that has precisely 2 possible manufacturers. See my 10/23/2008 post above.
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11/13/2009, 2:28 pm
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Cattrina
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Re: Vocabulary
In any case terminologies like these go beyond my head for me to remember them even as long enough to write this post, not to mention use in a sentence. But I am not a native english-speaker... so I stick with "confirmed", "plausible" and "unlikely" *laughs*
Oh yes, be very very certain I scrutinize every post you ever make here hehheee
Last edited by Cattrina, 11/13/2009, 2:33 pm
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11/13/2009, 2:32 pm
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