Indeed, one philologist goes as far as to theorize that language must have been invented for the sole purpose of deception.
- Word Power Made Easy
p146
How does it sound to you considering that language is the only way of communication we have? Atleast I know no other way.
I came across this statement sometimes in the summer of 2005 and since then it has been safely stored somewhere in my mind. At some very trivial or important moments, the line just rings in my ears. At the very first instance, the idea was vehemently rejected by my mind. But then, although it took some time to sink in, it finally did. Even if it were not invented for the sole purpose of deception, it really does the work well. It hurts to think in this way probably because words, the builing blocks of language, are so important for me. My greatest interests are all dependent on words.
But then, I can't much help it. Its only words and words are all I have... to make you believe, believe or even to decieve. And none of us much has a choice other than 'words'. May be that is where 'instinct' comes to play.
6 comments:
"language is the only way of communication we have?" ???
Anki thts surely an ambiguous statement ... I believe you're referring to language as the one which comprises of words - English,French etc ...
but wht abt the tone, gesture, silence n the 'look' which varies from admiration to stares .. or does that come in "Body-Language" - still a language fr tht matter - but Nt the one which you're talkin abt - fr it doesn't hv a single syllable ....
Also, it's not Only one's words which can be made to believe / decieve .... their perception by the 2nd person matters equally ... (ah wht u refer as instinct - true perhaps...)
The line in WPME is a blunt possibility sister... n I guess you also referred it in Digital Fortress where words are the only interface ... but then if words can decieve, so can eyes n tears n laughters ... deception ... it's really an interesting entity .. can turn the whole story upside down (seen the movie: The Usual Suspects?)
What a tangled web we weave,
My friend when we first learn to decieve ...
Keep smilin Moon
World is not always as bad as its worst facets...
Tc ..
Kapil
"The moment you say something, you compromise with your feelings"
This was said by Khalil Gibran(not the exact words)
I have so many times suffered due to the inadequacy of language. Perhaps language is the biggest failiure of all human creations. And thats one reason why human civilisation eveolved to develop better means of expression, music, dance, theatre. yes, u r right deception is one purpose which language serves and it not only decieves the listener but also the speaker, without him knowing it. I dont know what prompted you to write this post on 14th feb, but all the 14th-feb-kinda-words bear that air of deception and forgery around them. No, i m not a hater of humanity nor a pesimist who rejects the idea of love, but its just that I doubt the capacity of all those words.
wish I could write more but you see, I am struggling for the right words!!
I would suggest you toread a novel named "PERFUME", its about a man whose perception of this world is not through words but perfumes. an amazing film on the book was made last year in france.
@ kaps
The statement with which I started this post mentioned a 'philologist'.Thus he and consequently we both were talking about language that is comprised of words. Tone, gesture, silence, look do convey a lot but they are still a supplement to the 'language'. Had they been sufficient, we would have never seen the development of language of words (which includes sign language). I will still say language (with words) is only (at least the most general) way of communication.
The perception of words is a secondary consideration. In this post, I was talking that 'words' have given a platform for deception i.e the deliberate use of words for that purpose and not the misunderstanding caused due to wrong perception.
Blunt or not but still a possibility and hence this post. Words have a (tending to concrete) meaning. That is why we can always refer a dictionary. Unfortunately we do not have any such thing for eyes, tears, laughter, smile. Its totaly based on the perception of the 2nd person. We never by-heart them, we just trust our 'instincts'.
Sure, the world is not as bad as its worst facets but why should that hinder me from looking at all possibilities. After all, the world is not as good as its best facets either. :)
@ Sumeet
I might agree with the thought that the moment something is said, feelings are compromised but to say that language is the biggest failure of all human creations will be (I think) a gross exaggeration. It is just that it serves some opposite purpose other than for what it was developed as well (in a similar way as other inventions like electricity or dynamite). I am sorry but when I see a world without language or words, all I see is a world without conversation, without books, without diaries, without poems, (my poems too)... and I can't imagine living in such a world.
It is true that better means of expressions were evolved, may be due to limitaions of language but you see, most of those expressions are still incomplete without words, without language.
As for the deception of the speaker... I have often thought what I say is most of the time less than what I want to say and then again what the listener understands is still lesser. Loss of 'source information' or rather may be 'attenuation'.
We all struggle for words. And probably thats what keeps ups the charm of feelings.:)
My post was actually just a part. The thing is that, the neccesity or importance of language cannot be denied but neither can be its misapplication.
- Anki
@Anki
Throw light on the 14th feb and ur article connection : )
@ sumit
oh that :)... That must have been a mere coincidence. For me, 14th feb has always been like just-any-other day :)
To communicate your truest feelings one does not always need words.
Haven't we seen many times that it is the 'expression', the 'gravitas' and the 'presence' that wins an Oscar rather than eloquent dialogue delivery?
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