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From: "Terrence Lockyer" <lockyert@mweb.co.za>
To: "Classics List" <classics@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Quintilian 10.7.11
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 23:10:50 +0200
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On Thu, 29 Nov 2001, Alessandra Fusi wrote

: When I read the text I just wondered whether it
: was an "ability" one could learn or it was referred
: to a sort of tool ( ... ) that helped the mechanic
: writing.

Quintilian is definitely talking about a mental skill or trick that could be
learned by practice (compare speed-reading el sim. in modern times).  The
phrase "alogos tribe" itself looks to be little more than the Greek
equivalent, or rather original, translated by the Latin "usus irrationalis"
(="irrational habit"?).


Terrence Lockyer
Johannesburg, South Africa


.