Brilliant. I particularly like this section: “ This is the crux of our current conundrum. By weaponizing words and co-opting language, authoritarians create and then deepen divides. Those subtle linguistic manipulations I mentioned yesterday have huge impact on our ability to connect with one another. If we cannot connect, if we are speaking different languages, but more importantly perceiving and expressing reality in entirely different ways, then it is easier to believe in ‘the other.’”
I spent 10 years in Japan where I learned that words are indeed malleable and subject to interpretation. My Japanese colleagues delighted in thinking about the many ways a single kanji (Chinese character) could be interpreted and affect the meaning of a piece of writing. Imagine my horror when I graduated from Hiragana (phonetic symbols) and Katakana (symbols used to translate foreign words into Japanese pronunciation) to Kanji (Chinese characters) I say horror. Because each Kanji had at least six readings/meanings and most words were a combination of multiple Kanji. Take pencil for example. It is formed by combining two Kanji - one for lead and one for writing brush. You can imagine what happens when complex, esoteric ideas need to be written. Kanji and I did not get along.
At any rate, your post struck a chord with me. The only way we will be able to speak the same language again is if we stop trying to use our words to dismiss, categorize, and alienate one another and start having conversations about what we are feeling and why.
Brilliant. I particularly like this section: “ This is the crux of our current conundrum. By weaponizing words and co-opting language, authoritarians create and then deepen divides. Those subtle linguistic manipulations I mentioned yesterday have huge impact on our ability to connect with one another. If we cannot connect, if we are speaking different languages, but more importantly perceiving and expressing reality in entirely different ways, then it is easier to believe in ‘the other.’”
I spent 10 years in Japan where I learned that words are indeed malleable and subject to interpretation. My Japanese colleagues delighted in thinking about the many ways a single kanji (Chinese character) could be interpreted and affect the meaning of a piece of writing. Imagine my horror when I graduated from Hiragana (phonetic symbols) and Katakana (symbols used to translate foreign words into Japanese pronunciation) to Kanji (Chinese characters) I say horror. Because each Kanji had at least six readings/meanings and most words were a combination of multiple Kanji. Take pencil for example. It is formed by combining two Kanji - one for lead and one for writing brush. You can imagine what happens when complex, esoteric ideas need to be written. Kanji and I did not get along.
At any rate, your post struck a chord with me. The only way we will be able to speak the same language again is if we stop trying to use our words to dismiss, categorize, and alienate one another and start having conversations about what we are feeling and why.
Thank you, Margot!
When Merlin made me a bird I could see there were no borders. - Arthur
Oh, I love that. Perfect.
Did you know my daughter’s name is Avalon? 🙂