Benjamin Whorf, Tom Murphy, Linda Boxx : The Mon-Whorf Trail

Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897-1941) was an American linguist known for his ideas about linguistic relativity. His approach, often referred to as the "Sapir–Whorf hypothesis" (SWF), named after him and his mentor Edward Sapir, suggests that language influences thought - to the degree that if a language can't express it, a person can't think it.

For instance, if a language does not contain words or symbols for time, a person who speaks only that language will not be able to think in terms of time. The SWH is seen in reverse social engineering in George Orwell's writing, in which the removal of words causes a subsequent inability of the population to think in terms of the newly-unnamed constructs.

Similarly, it appears that French citizens will soon be unable to think in terms of Facebook and Twitter if everything happens according to plan.

On the other hand, a person about to synthesize a new concept will only be able to think and communicate in terms of the new concept by assigning it a new name or neologism. Bringing new words into use can be the first step in bringing new things into existence. It's heady stuff.

A Modest Proposal

The purpose of these last few posts is to suggest that rather than call "it" the Mon-Wharf Trail, we might call it the Mon-Whorf Trail, recognizing the impact that language and words have upon thinking, people, politics, and eventually reality.

For instance, in 1992 a new term was introduced: "brownfield". Having the use of that word made thinking and action possible. On the wiki page for brownfields, you'll see:

One of the most well-known areas in the United States for brownfield redevelopment is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which has successfully converted numerous former steel mill sites into high-end residential, shopping and offices.

The efforts that produced results in Pittsburgh trail development were led in Pittsburgh by Mayor Tom Murphy and led regionally by Linda Boxx. This year's series of trail completions and quality-of-life enhancements come to us because of Tom Murphy and Linda Boxx, along with several hundred fellow-travelers.

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Whorf's work continues to be appreciated by people who would bring about change. One of the next newish words, that will be just as significant as "brownfields", might be "viewshed". Just saying.


Urban planners think they've coined a neologism for a new concept; they believe they've invented something called the Green Belt.

Naming Hot Metal Bike Bridge Right

The most excellent Chris Briem has a recent blog entry at Null Space (highly recommended) about Hamilton Ontario's view of Buffalo vs. Pittsburgh. The article in the Hamilton Spectator features comments from former Mayor Tom Murphy — which prompts Chris to renew his call to name the Hot Metal Bike Bridge for Mayor Murphy.



I like(d) Murphy, then and now. I think he was a policy wonk willing to get his hands dirty, a choir boy who got business done in a traditional Democratic machine city; a mensch. Not perfect. Not canny. Led with his chin. Ended up in an agreement with the Feds to avoid prosecution. He did a better job than I would have.

He was a primary force behind turning waterfront into trails and usable space. He's now a Senior Resident Fellow at the Urban Land Institute.

I love naming the Hot Metal (Bike) Bridge after Tom Murphy, in that it recognizes a trail advocate along the trail. I'm not sure that it's the best use of this opportunity.

Naming rights are a big thing. PNC Park? Heinz Field?

What does the trail need? How can we use the opportunity to name the Hot Metal Bike Bridge to meet the trail's needs? What can we obtain by naming the bike bridge?



The trail (by which I mean the regional trail system, including the Pittsburgh to DC corridor) needs to figure out bicycle access through Sandcastle. It's the only remaining gap in the trail without a solution - the other gaps are agreed-upon works in progress.

Sandcastle is private property. Somebody owns it. Somebody paid for it, invested in it, developed it, gambled on it. I don't believe that eminent domain applies (nor should it). The trail organizations, loathe to route around SC because the options are terrible, need to find a way to induce SC to permit cyclists to cross their property.

The negotiated solution will probably include these factors: (1) a release from liability; (2) public investment in highway access to Sandcastle/Kennywood and drainage improvements; (3) some sort of marketing inducement-in-kind.

I think it might serve best to name the bike bridge the SandcastleWaterPark.com Bike Bridge — which would name, incidentally, the bike bridge that people from Pittsburgh would use to ride their bikes to Sandcastle.

It might get business done, and that's something Tom Murphy would appreciate.

We can name the Mon Wharf trail segment for Tom Murphy.