on language
i think words suck. so listening to me describe words' failings, while using words - makes no sense. i suggest you turn away.
i visualize words as posts, sunk in concrete, arrayed along a rolling field (e.g. a microsoft wallpaper), with very specific meaning associated to each post based upon their location.
the problem is the location of the the posts seem arbitrary - they are in weird locations (actually the locations/meanings are tied to culture - but culture is arbitrary); while the distance between the posts is often much too far to allow much finesse or elegance of expression.
as i discover arabic - i'm learning that very few arabic posts are co-located with an english post. and, that a new language - which requires looking at things from a new perspective - serves the same purpose as art, is as valuable as art, and enriches life experience just like art.
i think if we each spoke 10 or 20 languages - and could mix and match at will - i might not find words as inadequate as i do.
i visualize words as posts, sunk in concrete, arrayed along a rolling field (e.g. a microsoft wallpaper), with very specific meaning associated to each post based upon their location.
the problem is the location of the the posts seem arbitrary - they are in weird locations (actually the locations/meanings are tied to culture - but culture is arbitrary); while the distance between the posts is often much too far to allow much finesse or elegance of expression.
i much prefer music / sound to convey subtlety of meaning - and i much prefer a mathematical equation / formula for efficiency of communication.not long ago, my wife was speaking arabic in the kitchen, to herself - but for my benefit, while she was washing sweet potatoes. she said the arabic word for sweet potato - and then said literally it means "honey potato". i thought - wow, what rich meaning there - what an amazing new way of looking at a sweet potato.
as i discover arabic - i'm learning that very few arabic posts are co-located with an english post. and, that a new language - which requires looking at things from a new perspective - serves the same purpose as art, is as valuable as art, and enriches life experience just like art.
i think if we each spoke 10 or 20 languages - and could mix and match at will - i might not find words as inadequate as i do.
posted by P3T3RK3Y5 for meltingearth
1 Comments:
Yeah, isn't it insane then that the major country that primarily has spoken one language often seems to want to learn so little from people around the world, people who often speak three, four, and five languages, and often have such fresh perspectives on how they view the world. This post reminded me of the days when I studied koine Greek.
However, if I had been chosen by the etymology gods to name the honey potato, I would have named it nasty potato. Dan Quayle may have still named it the honey potatoe though.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home