The name of different things can change the way that
you see them. For example, if grass was called water, how would you see it? I
feel as if different names come with different connotations. Once I receive a
name for a concept that I could not name before, the whole meaning to that
concept changed for me. The word Iktsuarpok means
to go outside or to check if anybody is coming. I never really could describe
this action in just a word until now. This shortcut as you can tell just opens
up the mind to see things differently. For instance, this word makes it feel
like this particular action is so much more complicated than it really is. In
this way, our language is changed, for the better? That is up to you to decide
if that is so. Concepts are meant to be explained with many words. Having just
one word to describe something that would take a sentence is the point of
language. To expand our vocabulary and how we use it. What we say, the way we say
it should mean more than just the words themselves, it should mean what it
means to you and others should get that feeling from those words also. These
different words are meant for people to use different language to explain
something. Whether you like just explaining something very quickly, or just
really going into great deal of detail. This brings meaning to me in a way that
no other simple phrase could do justice for. I think that the reason that
language is always changing is because society is constantly changing.
Therefore the language the society speaks must be morphed to fit the current
times. Overall, concepts that are explained in just one word can change the way
you see that concept.
The beginning of your blog raises an interesting point. "If grass were called water how would I see it." This is interesting because it can be questioned even further. If grass were called water what would our meaning for water today be? Grass? The idea that concepts being explained in just one word and therefore changes your perception is a little bit broad. What could this mean exactly? I don't know if I agree with this. Because if you explain the concept of metal as "shiny" but your friend explains metal as "silver" which concept will you trust? I think it is a matter of preference and perspective. Although I am disagreeing, I can understand where this comes from. If you describe to someone blind that the sky is blue, it will always be blue to him or her. The sky will be the word blue. Unfortunately, concepts can vary because of disabilities such as behind deaf and blind.
ReplyDeleteYou're opening statement to your blog was an eye opener but I do have to disagree with the statement of "different names means different connotations". To a deaf person, like in the podcast, calling grass, water, makes no difference to him. It is incorrect but it's how he sees it and his own language. As we mentioned, language changes, and it is different to everyone and not considered wrong. Grass is not called water, but to a deaf person in Susan's story, it makes no difference because it is his language to understanding his life and his own connotations.
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