Sounding Out The Word
Any of you who have been reading me with any regularity know that I like to write. But I guess that anyone who blogs likes to write…at least on some level. Writing was the only thing I was really good at in high school other than basketball and sex. The reason I like writing isn’t so much that I have something to say. It’s mostly because I like words. I like language. I get this from my granny, who was an English teacher back in the day. She used to say to me “The way you speak can open a lot of doors and the way you speak can close a lot of doors.” So she always stressed language skills with me.
The cool thing about words is how that the same words can have so many different meanings. Not only by definition but by application and intent. Human language is a simply a communication of sounds. Sure, one could argue that that written language does not require sound. But when you read the written word do you not “hear” it in your head? Think about it. What is a word? Is it collection of letters? No. It’s a sound. That’s all. A sound. The letters are just a visual representation of the sound. A sound that has no power or meaning unless we give it intent. How else can the same “sound” (word) have different meanings for different cultures, classes, and people. You say “wang” in the U.S. and people think you’re being dirty. Utter the same sound in parts of Asia and you might as well have called out “Smith.”
I’m often amused about people who get uptight about swearing and “four-letter words”. It’s just sounds! Generally people are swearing to blow off steam or to release their frustrations. Who cares if they say, “Shit! Fuck! Piss! Damn!”? They could say “Shrimp! Fudge! Peas! Dance!” but the intent would be the same. Different sounds, same meaning. Words, as sounds, really have no power unless we give it to them.
Communication requires at least two points: sender and receptor. The sender has the intent. The receptor perceives the intent. I was reading in my buddy Larry’s blog, The Love Lemming, an entry in which he talks about how he feels about the word “queer.” That got me thinking about other words used ofr “gay.” Like “fag.” By definition, a “fag” can be a cigarette; kindling for a fire; a first-year boarding school student; or slang for homosexual, among other things. Take that last definition. It may or may not be derogatory. The speaker may intend for it to be derogatory, but if you don’t perceive it as such, then you have diffused the cruel intent. Maybe the real power of words lies in hands of the receptors.
It’s all in how we have been taught to, or choose to, perceive that sound. Imagine if you were cussed out by some African tribesman. Unless you know his language, you’re just going to hear strange vowels and tongue-clicks. He could be calling you all kinds of filthy things, but all you hear is sounds. It’s not going to effect you. No matter what his intent is. Remember on those Charlie Brown specials on TV when the unseen adults spoke it was done with sounds of a trombone. I don’t know exactly what was said. Why? Becuase it was just sounds. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t speak “wah-wah.”
My point in all this is that we should try to not let people get to us when they say ugly things. It’s just sounds and they’re making a lot of noise. And remember the old saying….”Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” Sound advice.
April 25th, 2005 at 4:22 am
You are a master of written language.I whole-heartedly agree that too often people do not articulate what it is they are writing. How often have lost yourself in a novel, biography or factual text? I like to read and will read anything (particularly if it it well recommended). The subject matter may not always appeal to me, but an author’s writing style is the true power of words.
Fabulous articile!!
April 25th, 2005 at 11:44 am
Words like “queer” and “fag” are almost empowering now to me. When I first came out - and even before then - the connotations of those words frightened me. Nowadays, just as many gay men use those terms in defining ourselves, taking away much of the negative impact. I laugh when I hear those words used in movies because they’re so outdated and they’re just words.
April 25th, 2005 at 3:22 pm
Hey man, it’s really interesting that you would post an entry like this one today. I’ve been starting to post more in Hawaiian language on my blog and more entries about Hawaiian history, since a bunch of my friends were curious… and actually, the next entry I was going to post is about Hawaiian language and it’s decline and affect on my people.
We have an ancient wise saying that says “I ka ‘olelo no ke ola, I ka ‘olelo no ka make.” “In the language there is life, In the language there is death.”
Being an oral culture, we have always believed that you could adversely affect the life of others based merely on what you have to say about them. In ancient days (and probably still to this day), it was very possible to cause harm to someone and make them sick just by praying for it… we also have stories of people being brought back to life through chants and other strong prayers!
Of course, for something like that to really work, you have to have pure faith in it.. like how you say “sticks and stones”… if you don’t believe in it, it won’t work either way =).
April 26th, 2005 at 12:38 am
That’s good advice Tony. I also agree with your view, sometimes it’s just best to block out the noise of the world and not take things said maliciously to heart.