One-word paradox?

[bonanova]

With a tip of the hat to Mr. G. Berry.

Onelook gives this definition:
Quick definitions (indescribable)
▸ adjective: defying expression or description ("Indescribable beauty")

Suppose you are asked to debate the proposition:

"The word 'indescribable', being an adjective, necessarily describes something.
It is thus self-contradictory, lacking clear meaning, and should be removed from the language."

Would you choose the Affirmative or Negative position; and what would your argument be?
_________________
_{Vidi, vici, veni.}

[Zag]

... that visiting this mind was a mistake, and I should back away ver-r-r-r-ry slowly.

[LordKinbote]

This reminds of when someone asks you for your opinion and you say "You know, I'm not even going to say anything" when saying such a comment not only is literally saying something, but is usually expressing your displeasure.

[bonanova]

Or when a meeting is opened with the words, "Before we begin, ..."
[this is a better thread than the OP perhaps.]

I would take the negative, for reasons I think are compelling.
_________________
_{Vidi, vici, veni.}

[Zag]

Wanting to remove a particular paradox from the language (for that reason) is something a dangerously literal person would want to do -- bordering on autistic. Languages are full of paradoxes and they would be diminished without them.

We even have a word for a specific type of paradox: oxymoron. The term isn't derogatory, as if the phrase was stupid, it is merely descriptive, and use of an oxymoron is often an extremely powerful way to describe something.

When he drew his pistol, the room was filled with a loud silence.

Capture THAT particular moment of tension as well with as few words -- I doubt you can do it.

[bonanova]

I do not possess the words to say how deeply I agree with that sentiment.

Being a single word [as opposed to military intelligence] might indescribable be termed an auto-oxymoron?
_________________
_{Vidi, vici, veni.}

[Chuck]

Since the statement "The scene is indescribable" can't be true, it just means that the scene is describable. But if we remove "indescribable" from the language then the scene might actually be indescribable so we should have a word for it, so we might as well leave it in.

[Trojan Horse]

I would take the negative position. But I'm extremely biased.

I think my fellow church-goers would not be happy if we couldn't sing the song Indescribable anymore. (We just sang it today, in fact.)