[peter_d]

I agree that some languages have a broader range of words for certain thematic areas or certain phenomena that are typical for the region where the language is spoken. I heard or read somewhere that the Inuit language has over a hundred words for snow.

But puns, allusions, subtlety... those are different things in my opinion. I think they are much more determined by the way one uses the language. Puns and allusions are not confined by the tool (the language), but by the way the tool is used.

And aesthetic merit of a language is a highly subjective issue, I find. Nevertheless we are on the same page when it comes to linguistics. Very interesting indeed!