>--- "M. E. Smith" <mesmith@rocketmail.com> wrote:
>"A fetus is a human."
>
>Could easily be translated to E-prime as:
>
>"A fetus has the same rights as a human."
>
>Would E-prime really help much?
Actually, this example presents a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the merit of E-prime.
The verb "to be" often connotes an equation or identity, as your sentence about a fetus illustrates. But, of course a fetus does not equal a human. It seems to me that switching to E-prime handily reminds us that a fetus can become a human, so that we don't slip into equating a fetus with a human.
When does a fetus become a human? When it votes Libertarian, naturally!
Cheers,
--J. R. Molloy
http://www.shasta.com/jr