Language & Power

http://www.amazon.com/Communication-Uncovered-General-Semantics-Ecology/dp/09... Words are ABSOLUTELY FREE (true open source technology, greener than green) and they are sources of great power both in interpersonal and public settings. Despite this, many people choose not to study words, choose not to call learning about words one of the most interesting forms of study there is. They would rather play video games or amuse themselves and/or satisfy themselves within cussing-styles of interaction. That is fine, but then don't pretend to be a thinker. Too many people seems to want it both ways.

Perhaps they'd rather tell some story about how they're victims, perhaps claiming that other people have had advantages? Maybe that is true. O.k. Now what?
How smug and arrogant must be those people who continue to think that they are beyond needing to grow their vocabulary? If you are alive your vocabulary should still be growing!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• words
• Open-source technology
• Green
• Language
• courage
• wisdom
• tenacity
• moxie
• wherewithal

[camino1ca]

I love the points you make. I've tried to communicate such ideas to people about language only to get a "huh". Feels good to see someone who feels the same. Beautiful.

[Professoranton]

thanks for the support.

[RaeofSunder]

I've posted this response video about feeling life on the "Gulf war" side of things...

"Dude, i like totally saw some heavy shit today, Love Garth."

But I realized that what I was lacking was not the intelligence but in fact the vocabulary as you say. The vehicle.

So I'm finding out what I care about, doing the reading and surprising myself with a new, remediated form of expression.

Thanks for sharing your ideas by the way!

[Professoranton]

Remediated.  Great word. Thanks so much

[RubiconXing]

@RubiconXing I forgot: Mephisto also claims that "Words are greater yet than man".

[RubiconXing]

@RubiconXing From Jan Svankmajer's Faust. Others may think it has religious tones, but I would say spiritual. Would love to hear your take on this. There was a time I almost gave up on language and took a vow of silence.

[RubiconXing]

"So still I seek, the force governing life's flow -- and not just its external show" "The governing force, the reason? Some things cannot be known. They are beyond your reach, even when shown." "Why should that be so?" "They lie outside the boundaries that words can address, and man can only grasp those thoughts which language can express" [...] "Liar! Traitor! Where are the pulse and core of nature you promised to reveal?" "Ah, Faustus, you lack the wit to see them in every blade of grass"

[adam3176]

The illuminati has been Dumbing us down for a Long time.. They have us in a trance.. a little world.. some sort of a black magic.. they use the TV to get us stuck is these lame stupid stories.. They use tv to get us to b ignorant.. We are being dumbed down in a way no one could Imagine. And I could tell people what they are doing to our country and our armed forces.. But no one would believe me

[AshleyPinaSLP]

What is the best way to build vocabulary short of studying the dictionary? I read a lot but I don't look up every word that is unfamiliar to me. Instead, I try to gauge the meaning from context. But even when one infers through context, misunderstandings can be made when much of language acquistion is through association.

[Contextcatcher]

There is also a tragic dark side of word power...

[landgabriel]

I am self taught. My working vocabulary probably rests high above average. And my articulation improves by the day.

If there is a point at which language diverges from power, I cant see it. Perhaps the surreal and absurd. But all language conveys an agenda, a will to power. For this reason I taught myself to use language, to increase my individual power, and free myself from hierarchical power structures.

[optionism]

If I study high level vocab, I may be able to communicate with other people that know high level vocab, but I cannot talk on the same level with people that lack an extensive vocab.

[texme]

I have an addiction to Fiction, are we approaching "Peak Fiction" where is the rehabilitation, words are creating my jurisdiction. rable rable rable

[sweeetly]

...it says something about this in the book of Corinthians, I am sounding brass, the words are empty of creative force.

So speaking in the fullness of understanding the power of words, they become transformative by the feeling they carry.

Magic making is right :)