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Oct. 8th, 2009 02:14 pmthings I read recently on the power of words and languages!
In my English reading book Major Themes for Modern Writers, the author Harvey Wiener wrote an introduction to a group of essays about language and said:
the word is divine! see, that's one of the few things about Christianity that I love so much. words are important to them. REALLY important. I mean, some of the more annoying Christians manage to turn even that into this huge fuck-up, but still. words are important! I love religions that place an importance on language. *happy sigh*
anyway, it was one of the essays right after that one that I originally wrote down things from, because the guy writing it quoted something Samuel Johnson had said, and the something was awesome.
a lot of the essay was talking about how languages change, which I really feel like just shoving in my dad's face and making him read it (this is the man who refuses to use the word 'fun' because it used to mean 'profane'. YES. I am not kidding - I could not make stuff like this up). and then there were two small things that made me sigh happily too in the essay itself (which was by Tony Earley).
so yay for language stuffs!
( tv this week? AWESOME, you guys. so awesome. )
In my English reading book Major Themes for Modern Writers, the author Harvey Wiener wrote an introduction to a group of essays about language and said:
Yet we cannot help asking what exactly is language. ... It is a gift of the supernatural, societies with a strong belief in magic assert. In the Judeo-Christian world, the idea has lingered: In the beginning was the word, the Bible teaches; the word is divine.
the word is divine! see, that's one of the few things about Christianity that I love so much. words are important to them. REALLY important. I mean, some of the more annoying Christians manage to turn even that into this huge fuck-up, but still. words are important! I love religions that place an importance on language. *happy sigh*
anyway, it was one of the essays right after that one that I originally wrote down things from, because the guy writing it quoted something Samuel Johnson had said, and the something was awesome.
Sounds are too volatile and subtle for legal restraints; to enchain syllables, and to lash the wind, are equally the undertakings of pride.
a lot of the essay was talking about how languages change, which I really feel like just shoving in my dad's face and making him read it (this is the man who refuses to use the word 'fun' because it used to mean 'profane'. YES. I am not kidding - I could not make stuff like this up). and then there were two small things that made me sigh happily too in the essay itself (which was by Tony Earley).
Words and blood are the double helix that connect us to the past.
Sometimes the truest answer to "Who are you?" is "I don't know."
Sometimes the truest answer to "Who are you?" is "I don't know."
so yay for language stuffs!
( tv this week? AWESOME, you guys. so awesome. )
