just started so have no reviews yet, of mine
but here one, and an 'about the author' note
the line of beauty by alan hollinghurst
Thursday, June 01, 2006
la línea de la belleza
the book that i am reading now
just started so have no reviews yet, of mine
but here one, and an 'about the author' note
the line of beauty by alan hollinghurst
just started so have no reviews yet, of mine
but here one, and an 'about the author' note
the line of beauty by alan hollinghurst
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
& then i knew who is richard greenberg
last night another night at the old globe theatre, this time the violet hour; and the name richard greenberg, for me now is linked to outstanding ideas, marvelous plots, full of unforeseen twists; i think one knows it is a good play when all seems fast, short, and easily ending! when you can't believe the intermission is here, and when the curtain is down again it is sad to see the play over. i could've stayed the whole night and re-watched it many times! it was that delicious... the machine, what a ironic twister. a highly enjoyable play, fast paced and never dull or boring, full of new york city references, queens, the queensborough bridge, etc.
the cast was superb! 2 women 3 men, and specially t. scott cunningham as gidger, maybe since his character carried the most delightful and funniest lines on the play, not to mention his dog sir lancelot
from aCurtainUp review on the Violet hour:
It's that time -- that wonderful New York hour when the evening's about to reward you for that day ---Denis (Denny) McCleary explaining the title for his colossus of a novel to his friend John Pace Seavering -- and by extension, the title for Richard Greenberg's play about a fateful day in their lives...
one henry james day
as I search, and become overwhelmed always seeing the flocks of materials coming, into English and American literature figures; (and not that I am done with the Latin’s, the Europeans, or even less with my beloved Southern American authors). However, as I search in English, and why English? Well, because I am following the switch of a language, from Spanish to English with its implications on the adulteration of my once-better-defined-since-in-narrower-mind-landscapes-developed personality.
Then, I am finding authors that might fit and soothe my mad person (mad as in crazy, deranged, or lacking restraint or reason, or foolish, but NOT as in angry), authors that dedicate their lives and sensitiveness to write thoughts, legends, stories on the humane splendor and also on its horrible complications, for us one day to find and read and embrace. Authors who wrote marvelous words in English that might ensemble with my sight of life and sense. Authors who wrote a word or two that might bring me back to my own personal corner, where there are no big plans nor big treasures but the pleasure of the beauty on nothingness, on the little details of every day, those details that i can depend on: on teas, coffee, sounds of birds, noisy guitar feedbacks, one or two flowers appearing and trees that become older, and the art of my friends that is always shinning.
In this newest language, (5 years by now of being official, as official English can be inSan Diego
here some of Henry James quoting
Thank goodness you're a failure-- it's why I so distinguish you! Anything else to-day is too hideous. Look about you--look at the successes. Would you BE one, on your honour?
"The Ambassadors", Book First, Chapter 3
People can be in general pretty well trusted, of course--with the clock of their freedom ticking as loud as it seems to do here--to keep an eye on the fleeting hour.
"The Ambassadors", Book Fifth, Chapter 2
Live all you can - it's a mistake not to. It doesn't so much matter what you do in particular, so long as you have your life. If you haven't had that, what have you had?
"The Ambassadors"
Even when a thing's already nice there mostly is some other thing that would have been nicer - or as to which we wonder if it wouldn't.
"The Ambassadors", Book Ninth, Chapter 2
"The Ambassadors", Book Sixth, Chapter 2
Cats and monkeys; monkeys and cats; all human life is there.
It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature.
She had an unequalled gift... of squeezing big mistakes into small opportunities.
and my favorite:
Deep experience is never peaceful.
also visit the Ladder a website devoted to Henry
“It rested – the ladder – against the great stony wall of the public attention”
The papers – Henry James
Then, I am finding authors that might fit and soothe my mad person (mad as in crazy, deranged, or lacking restraint or reason, or foolish, but NOT as in angry), authors that dedicate their lives and sensitiveness to write thoughts, legends, stories on the humane splendor and also on its horrible complications, for us one day to find and read and embrace. Authors who wrote marvelous words in English that might ensemble with my sight of life and sense. Authors who wrote a word or two that might bring me back to my own personal corner, where there are no big plans nor big treasures but the pleasure of the beauty on nothingness, on the little details of every day, those details that i can depend on: on teas, coffee, sounds of birds, noisy guitar feedbacks, one or two flowers appearing and trees that become older, and the art of my friends that is always shinning.In this newest language, (5 years by now of being official, as official English can be in
here some of Henry James quoting
Thank goodness you're a failure-- it's why I so distinguish you! Anything else to-day is too hideous. Look about you--look at the successes. Would you BE one, on your honour?
"The Ambassadors", Book First, Chapter 3
People can be in general pretty well trusted, of course--with the clock of their freedom ticking as loud as it seems to do here--to keep an eye on the fleeting hour.
"The Ambassadors", Book Fifth, Chapter 2
Live all you can - it's a mistake not to. It doesn't so much matter what you do in particular, so long as you have your life. If you haven't had that, what have you had?
"The Ambassadors"
Even when a thing's already nice there mostly is some other thing that would have been nicer - or as to which we wonder if it wouldn't.
"The Ambassadors", Book Ninth, Chapter 2
- She had fortunately always her appetite for news. The pure flame of the disinterested burned in her cave of treasures as a lamp in a Byzantine vault.
- "The Ambassadors", Book Ninth, Chapter 2
- He had the entertainment of thinking that if he had for that moment stopped the clock it was to promote the next minute this still livelier motion.
- "The Ambassadors", Book Eighth, Chapter 2
"The Ambassadors", Book Sixth, Chapter 2
Cats and monkeys; monkeys and cats; all human life is there.
It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature.
She had an unequalled gift... of squeezing big mistakes into small opportunities.
and my favorite:
Deep experience is never peaceful.
also visit the Ladder a website devoted to Henry
“It rested – the ladder – against the great stony wall of the public attention”
The papers – Henry James
Monday, May 22, 2006
sir arthur conan doyle birth-day!
a day like today but back in 1859 was born one of my literary heros sir arthur conan doylehe is featured today in google
here a link to his biographysir arthur conan doyle siempre!
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
books
"Books are not life, however much we might prefer it if they were."
"What happened to the truth is not recorded."
"Parrots are human to begin with; etymologically, that is. Perroquet is a diminutive of Pierrot; parrot comes from Pierre; Spanish perico derives from Pedro. For the Greeks, their ability to speak was an item in the philosophical devate over the differences between man and the animals."
- Julian Barnes, Flaubert's Parrot.
footnotes
1) Barnes (at least while writing on Flaubert and his parrot) is clearly out of his mind. Brilliantly, all over the place. The references, places, stories, quotations, and so much other richness included, are so vast that is delightfully hard for one, very hard indeed, and delightful too, to realize when you are reading fiction, fiction from either the author (not Barnes, but his narrator) or from his eloquently dissected subject, Flaubert, not the parrot in this specific case -nor that the bird doesn't get spoonfuls of scrutiny himself -; or historically accurate facts; or anecdotes from the French or the English side. Erratic genius that makes the most sense… Anybody who is interested in literature, books, and twisty-quirky references, don’t wait!
2) I talked to my mother on the phone today, as she gets ready to visit me for a long time... Out of the blue, and as I prepare my dinner, holding with one hand the 'parrot book' (see above), I remember that my mother taught me 2 basic cooking (more serving) advices:
advice 1. take the cheese out of the fridge at least 1/2 an hour before eating it. these days i always remember that the right temperature and texture are most important while eating a good piece of cheese.
advice 2. take the salad dressing out of the fridge at least 1/2 an hour before serving
most important details for a delightful trivial life, like mine, as on a wednesday night i worry over a brilliant lunatic author writing about another brilliant yet equally lunatic author, all while wondering if my cheese has the right temperature, triviality indeed...
NO to war!
"What happened to the truth is not recorded."
"Parrots are human to begin with; etymologically, that is. Perroquet is a diminutive of Pierrot; parrot comes from Pierre; Spanish perico derives from Pedro. For the Greeks, their ability to speak was an item in the philosophical devate over the differences between man and the animals."
- Julian Barnes, Flaubert's Parrot.
footnotes
1) Barnes (at least while writing on Flaubert and his parrot) is clearly out of his mind. Brilliantly, all over the place. The references, places, stories, quotations, and so much other richness included, are so vast that is delightfully hard for one, very hard indeed, and delightful too, to realize when you are reading fiction, fiction from either the author (not Barnes, but his narrator) or from his eloquently dissected subject, Flaubert, not the parrot in this specific case -nor that the bird doesn't get spoonfuls of scrutiny himself -; or historically accurate facts; or anecdotes from the French or the English side. Erratic genius that makes the most sense… Anybody who is interested in literature, books, and twisty-quirky references, don’t wait!
2) I talked to my mother on the phone today, as she gets ready to visit me for a long time... Out of the blue, and as I prepare my dinner, holding with one hand the 'parrot book' (see above), I remember that my mother taught me 2 basic cooking (more serving) advices:
advice 1. take the cheese out of the fridge at least 1/2 an hour before eating it. these days i always remember that the right temperature and texture are most important while eating a good piece of cheese.
advice 2. take the salad dressing out of the fridge at least 1/2 an hour before serving
most important details for a delightful trivial life, like mine, as on a wednesday night i worry over a brilliant lunatic author writing about another brilliant yet equally lunatic author, all while wondering if my cheese has the right temperature, triviality indeed...
NO to war!
There is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace: Project Gutenberg
an excellent literary resource on the World Wide Web Project Gutenberg, on downtimes I have read at least 2 chapters of Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit. I recommend you to recover the taste for the charming style, the observer's passion, the fascination of logic, of all times dearest Sherlock Holmes, my adolescence and life would have been very different without Sir Arthur Conan Doyle around (suspicious smile...)
Project Gutenberg features on its front page as today
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
once you are there don't forget to check their Music, recorded section
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
kenzaburo oe & other japanese authors, an e-mail
i had received e-mails... apart from that CAN update (gracias beto! that was freaking smooth nice loud) here posted the best on japanese literature so far my friend (whose name i shall keep secret, as in any good suspense plot) is a beautiful girl from japan, and a rather sweet one she gave me for my birthday a copy of kenzaburo oe's 'teach us to outgrow our madness' since she knows (and actually thanks to her) that my admiration for japanese authors has been growing as i type, even if with typos, ha!
anyway, enough of my stupidity and to her lovely words
tomorrow i will add links to the books she mentions in her informatively charming e-mail...
and this my friend and her e-mail...
she sends more
i am a lucky mexican after all
tomorrow will try to finally make up a way to tribute
that parrot, the flaubert's one, i am almost done with the book
not sure if tonight but by the end of this week for sure
julian barnes 'flaubert's parrot' and a guinness at the ould sod
to close the UK chapter
to open the japanese again?
or shall my next book be... mexican?
i have an eye on El Orgasmógrafo (love the name)
by Enrique Serna
futuristic cruel tales 'exploring the imaginary erotic prisons of the man in a perverse future where humans must have a quote of orgasms to be part of an ideal society', interesting concept indeed.... can't wait for some fresh mexican narrative
for tonight back to beloved barnes.... ah what a freaking delight of a writer...
anyway, enough of my stupidity and to her lovely words
tomorrow i will add links to the books she mentions in her informatively charming e-mail...
Hi, Bere. I wanted to tell you little bit about the author of the book I gave you as a birthday present.
He is sort of rebel like Mishima Yukio who wrote Spring Snow. And of course that is why I bought you that book by Kenzaburo Oe. I am not sure if the book I gave you was a novel or not. (It seems like it is a novel... but not sure) I am not sure if you enjoy reading essays but I hope you will enjoy reading his book if it is not a novel. He also write novels and essays.
Kenzaburo Oe was the second Japanese person who got nobel prize for literature after the very first Japanese writer, Yasunari Kawabata who wrote very beautiful novels. I didn't buy books by Yasunari Kawabata because it can be too simple for you. hahaha :-) But I thought Kawabata's novels are sort of like the ones from Yukio Mishima.
Kenzo Oe used to say things like, "I don't want to get any prizes from Japanese governement.", "We should abandon The Japan Art Academy." and so on, which is very radical. Doesn't it sort of remind of Yukio Mishima? He wasn't political radicals like Mishima but he says what he believes in public in radical way.
The book I bought for you was the most popular one in his books among Americans. When I checked Japanese website, another his book was #1. So as you said about translations in movies, translations and cultures we live affect what we like.
I hope you will enjoy the book.
I am glad to hear that you enjoy Kurosawa movies. It is too bad that we don't have great directors from Japan. I never seen his movies except one you showed me, Dreams. I also want to introduce some Japanese movies but it is hard because DVDs from Japan doesn't work here in USA and vice versa.
Regarding to translation, yes, I think there are a lot of things are lost in translation. One of reasons I won't see "Memories of Geisha" is that Kyoto diarect is so different and itself is culture. Even in Japanese, Kyoto accecent is necessary to feel Geisha. I don't know how this movie can show special things about Kyoto in English. When I was watching "Dirty Dancing" last night, I wished to speak Spanish but I don't have enough time for that. Sucks that I have to go to school and I am old... Because I don't see Japanese movies, I am not sure how Japanese movies are translated but I assume it is different.
Oh, besides Kurosawa, Hayao Miyazaki films are good but those are animation but really good.
How do you think about Mexican or Latina movies? I think they are good at Sex movies and Comedies. :-)
Mishima Yukio directed only one movie. He was actor too in several movies. You might be interested in his movies. Or maybe it disappoint you. :-) His novels became movies too. They just made Spring Snow movie last year.
I mentioned Yasunari Kawabata, the very first Japanese novel prize winner for literature. I just learned that Mishima wanted to married his daughter but he didn't care and he was cold to Mishima. So he didn't like him, I guess. Kawabata also commited suicide and people believe that the fact he saw the death of Mishima affected him and it led to him to commit suicide.
Takeshi Kitano is also famous director but I am not sure if you like his movies. He is younger. So his movies are not old at all but most of the time, violent.
He is sort of rebel like Mishima Yukio who wrote Spring Snow. And of course that is why I bought you that book by Kenzaburo Oe. I am not sure if the book I gave you was a novel or not. (It seems like it is a novel... but not sure) I am not sure if you enjoy reading essays but I hope you will enjoy reading his book if it is not a novel. He also write novels and essays.
Kenzaburo Oe was the second Japanese person who got nobel prize for literature after the very first Japanese writer, Yasunari Kawabata who wrote very beautiful novels. I didn't buy books by Yasunari Kawabata because it can be too simple for you. hahaha :-) But I thought Kawabata's novels are sort of like the ones from Yukio Mishima.
Kenzo Oe used to say things like, "I don't want to get any prizes from Japanese governement.", "We should abandon The Japan Art Academy." and so on, which is very radical. Doesn't it sort of remind of Yukio Mishima? He wasn't political radicals like Mishima but he says what he believes in public in radical way.
The book I bought for you was the most popular one in his books among Americans. When I checked Japanese website, another his book was #1. So as you said about translations in movies, translations and cultures we live affect what we like.
I hope you will enjoy the book.
I am glad to hear that you enjoy Kurosawa movies. It is too bad that we don't have great directors from Japan. I never seen his movies except one you showed me, Dreams. I also want to introduce some Japanese movies but it is hard because DVDs from Japan doesn't work here in USA and vice versa.
Regarding to translation, yes, I think there are a lot of things are lost in translation. One of reasons I won't see "Memories of Geisha" is that Kyoto diarect is so different and itself is culture. Even in Japanese, Kyoto accecent is necessary to feel Geisha. I don't know how this movie can show special things about Kyoto in English. When I was watching "Dirty Dancing" last night, I wished to speak Spanish but I don't have enough time for that. Sucks that I have to go to school and I am old... Because I don't see Japanese movies, I am not sure how Japanese movies are translated but I assume it is different.
Oh, besides Kurosawa, Hayao Miyazaki films are good but those are animation but really good.
How do you think about Mexican or Latina movies? I think they are good at Sex movies and Comedies. :-)
Mishima Yukio directed only one movie. He was actor too in several movies. You might be interested in his movies. Or maybe it disappoint you. :-) His novels became movies too. They just made Spring Snow movie last year.
I mentioned Yasunari Kawabata, the very first Japanese novel prize winner for literature. I just learned that Mishima wanted to married his daughter but he didn't care and he was cold to Mishima. So he didn't like him, I guess. Kawabata also commited suicide and people believe that the fact he saw the death of Mishima affected him and it led to him to commit suicide.
Takeshi Kitano is also famous director but I am not sure if you like his movies. He is younger. So his movies are not old at all but most of the time, violent.
and this my friend and her e-mail...
she sends more
i am a lucky mexican after all
tomorrow will try to finally make up a way to tribute
that parrot, the flaubert's one, i am almost done with the book
not sure if tonight but by the end of this week for sure
julian barnes 'flaubert's parrot' and a guinness at the ould sod
to close the UK chapter
to open the japanese again?
or shall my next book be... mexican?
i have an eye on El Orgasmógrafo (love the name)
by Enrique Serna
futuristic cruel tales 'exploring the imaginary erotic prisons of the man in a perverse future where humans must have a quote of orgasms to be part of an ideal society', interesting concept indeed.... can't wait for some fresh mexican narrative
for tonight back to beloved barnes.... ah what a freaking delight of a writer...
Monday, May 15, 2006
sleeping in the enemy's patio
It is just outrageous what Bush is doing now
Troops at the Mexican border?
What is he going to do next?
Blame Mexico for his stupidity
Long list of them he has
way longer than mine
distracting the nation's attention from a useless war
to a display of militar totalism?
attempts that after all
red necks like him fall for...
here the news click on it
And the Venezuela issue
As Venezuelan president said
Bush is the terrorist himself!
don't you see?
but then rednecks like this huh?
power and weapons and rifles and power eh?
“A totalitarian regime crushes all autonomous institutions in its drive to seize the human soul” (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.).
I do have dual citizenship
American and Mexican
Naturally born American
But raised in Mexico
And every day lately
I feel like Julia Roberts in that
Film “Sleeping with the Enemy”
Wondering if I am after all in the right side
Of the fence
Maybe ethically, morally, I am NOT anymore
I moved to USA 5 years ago
Being sick of corrupted Mexican politics
And the violence in my other ways lovely Mexico City
I live a peaceful laid back life in San Diego
Yet many days I do feel like a sold-out
Supporting (somehow since like it or not that mofo is my president)
This country which boundaries and lack of respect for other countries
Had gone so far
North american people, the real people, my friends, my co-workers, the every day citizens
are great people, and i don't think, feel, or agree that some one like Bush
represents them, and myself
he is not USA, as Carlos Salinas de Gortari was never Mexico
so much for totalitarianism then
National guard in Iraq
National guard in Mexican borders
So much for arrogance & stepping all over the world
National guard should take over that lunatic guy!
Yes over Bush the most disrespectful president ever
a truly cuello rojo, red neck
just a bit of common sense
not 'cause Mexico have had troops in the border for a while
but the impact of the external politics
as all the world is watching
I feel sorry for this such amazing country and myself here
since it is my country now
Being victim of this awful leader
Really really sad
Hope the Americans recover democracy one day
Such a great nation coming down into violent pieces
A paranoid greedy man building a white fence around
Violence brings isolation
sad white fence below
sometimes I think I should just pack and go back to Mexico
poverty yet warmth and not a lunatic guy as president
yet Vicente Fox sucks too (at least we got rid of over 70 years of PRI)
Damn where to move now???
I am running out of countries where to go now?
have to say I do miss the mexican charm
as much as one could in San Diego, heh heh...
agggrrrr politics rub me wrong
i hate them!
Troops at the Mexican border?
What is he going to do next?
Blame Mexico for his stupidity
Long list of them he has
way longer than mine
distracting the nation's attention from a useless war
to a display of militar totalism?
attempts that after all
red necks like him fall for...
here the news click on it
And the Venezuela issue
As Venezuelan president said
Bush is the terrorist himself!
don't you see?
but then rednecks like this huh?
power and weapons and rifles and power eh?
“A totalitarian regime crushes all autonomous institutions in its drive to seize the human soul” (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.).
I do have dual citizenship
American and Mexican
Naturally born American
But raised in Mexico
And every day lately
I feel like Julia Roberts in that
Film “Sleeping with the Enemy”
Wondering if I am after all in the right side
Of the fence
Maybe ethically, morally, I am NOT anymore
I moved to USA 5 years ago
Being sick of corrupted Mexican politics
And the violence in my other ways lovely Mexico City
I live a peaceful laid back life in San Diego
Yet many days I do feel like a sold-out
Supporting (somehow since like it or not that mofo is my president)
This country which boundaries and lack of respect for other countries
Had gone so far
North american people, the real people, my friends, my co-workers, the every day citizens
are great people, and i don't think, feel, or agree that some one like Bush
represents them, and myself
he is not USA, as Carlos Salinas de Gortari was never Mexico
so much for totalitarianism then
National guard in Iraq
National guard in Mexican borders
So much for arrogance & stepping all over the world
National guard should take over that lunatic guy!
Yes over Bush the most disrespectful president ever
a truly cuello rojo, red neck
just a bit of common sense
not 'cause Mexico have had troops in the border for a while
but the impact of the external politics
as all the world is watching
I feel sorry for this such amazing country and myself here
since it is my country now
Being victim of this awful leader
Really really sad
Hope the Americans recover democracy one day
Such a great nation coming down into violent pieces
A paranoid greedy man building a white fence around
Violence brings isolation
sad white fence below
sometimes I think I should just pack and go back to Mexico
poverty yet warmth and not a lunatic guy as president
yet Vicente Fox sucks too (at least we got rid of over 70 years of PRI)
Damn where to move now???
I am running out of countries where to go now?
have to say I do miss the mexican charm
as much as one could in San Diego, heh heh...
agggrrrr politics rub me wrong
i hate them!
The Power of Language: vindication of the slop
I got a verbal comment on my blog a couple of days ago. The commenter pointed my some-times sloppiness detected throughout the curse of reading the many stupidities posted below, of course I excused myself with poor allegations such as ‘they are just simple notes that I write on the run’ and, the saddest one ‘oh, English is not my first language, remember? Thus, I can be a little off/wrong sometimes, nobody will make a big deal, you know?’. Yet, the commenter knows me well enough, and knows that those mistakes and my lack of care on my writing are a sign of just being that: sloppy and lazy. He was quite disappointed since once I was well-known for my carefulness, somehow dissipated these days among, well, I don’t really know among what, or how it got dissipated at all. Anyway, here and while following his gracious advice, which accordingly will bring me some ‘against-sloppiness vindication’, I am posting some pieces that I wrote in a serious mode. The first official document written in proper English that has come out of many-times taps on an American keyboard, has to be my final essay/test for my English 101 class. The Power of Language was the central theme of the piece. The only guidelines given were the use of 3 quotations from authors we had read through the class, and to follow a regular descriptive essay form; the rest was all my mexican 'imaginación'. Here from August 2004, fresh, below…
Berenice Weber
English 101 | The Power of Language
Professor Richard Peters
August 5, 2004
The Power of Language
Language is knowledge, and as the German saying goes “knowledge is power.” So, power is implied in language. Susanne K. Langer in her essay Language and Thought explains that “language is the highest and most amazing achievement of the symbolic human mind.” Language is an inherent characteristic to human kind and civilization. Language conveys individual and social implications. The way we exercise language can determine whether its delivery is nocive or advantageous.
Language has personal connotations since we use it as a tool to originate thoughts and sensations. Our consciences talk to us in words. Our hearts arrange our feelings in sentences. Our minds bombard us with wordy images. Our daily worries and long-term goals are debated every morning, in our minds and souls, in the form of a soliloquy. Researchers affirm that the human perception of reality is defined by language. Therefore, regardless of our personal use of language—and whether we are able to speak it, write it, understand it, and communicate with it properly—it will always be our companion, since it is intrinsic to the human nature. Language empowers or undermines us depending on how we use it.
Civilization, by definition, is a state of intellectual, cultural, and material development in human society. Probably the most relevant instrument of amalgamation in society, and good indicator of the advancement of civilization, is language. An example that helps demonstrating the importance of language in society is that one of the largest systems of categorization of human groups is according to their language. The use of a common language confers a group the condition of unity and cohesion. Language is present in each and all of the social matters of a collectivity: economical exchanges, cultural interactions, political concerns, and arts and entertainment. As exposed in the text Exploring Language by Gary Goshgarian in the introduction to the case study: English Only or Bilingualism, “language is probably the most important element of our cultural heritage.” Without language, what we call society would be very different: an indecipherable concept, indeed.
The results of the use language are as vast as the humankind itself. Each of us can exercise language in a unique way. Language is organic, flexible, and it is always in constant renovation. Language has been transforming and adjusting its values and meanings since its appearance, according to the society’s demands. Even though we have created very specific semantical and grammatical rules, the use of language is still susceptible to adaptation. Depending particularly of the circumstances and context where it takes place, the delivery of language can either denigrate or praise a person. “Words themselves are innocuous; it is the consensus that gives them true power,” writes Gloria Naylor in her essay ‘Nigger’: The Meaning of a Word.
As individuals, language defines us internally. As collectivity, language helps us communicating with others and to identify as a group. It is in us as human beings, and members of a society, to use language in a responsible way. Because language is the base that supports the structure of who we are: our inner selves, our personalities, our dreams, our every-day issues, our identities, and our bonds with family and friends, are all regulated by language. As John Simon writes in his delightful essay Why Good English Is Good for You: “ You are going to be judged, whether you like it or not, by the correctness of your English as much as by the correctness of your thinking.”
Berenice Weber
English 101 | The Power of Language
Professor Richard Peters
August 5, 2004
The Power of Language
Language is knowledge, and as the German saying goes “knowledge is power.” So, power is implied in language. Susanne K. Langer in her essay Language and Thought explains that “language is the highest and most amazing achievement of the symbolic human mind.” Language is an inherent characteristic to human kind and civilization. Language conveys individual and social implications. The way we exercise language can determine whether its delivery is nocive or advantageous.
Language has personal connotations since we use it as a tool to originate thoughts and sensations. Our consciences talk to us in words. Our hearts arrange our feelings in sentences. Our minds bombard us with wordy images. Our daily worries and long-term goals are debated every morning, in our minds and souls, in the form of a soliloquy. Researchers affirm that the human perception of reality is defined by language. Therefore, regardless of our personal use of language—and whether we are able to speak it, write it, understand it, and communicate with it properly—it will always be our companion, since it is intrinsic to the human nature. Language empowers or undermines us depending on how we use it.
Civilization, by definition, is a state of intellectual, cultural, and material development in human society. Probably the most relevant instrument of amalgamation in society, and good indicator of the advancement of civilization, is language. An example that helps demonstrating the importance of language in society is that one of the largest systems of categorization of human groups is according to their language. The use of a common language confers a group the condition of unity and cohesion. Language is present in each and all of the social matters of a collectivity: economical exchanges, cultural interactions, political concerns, and arts and entertainment. As exposed in the text Exploring Language by Gary Goshgarian in the introduction to the case study: English Only or Bilingualism, “language is probably the most important element of our cultural heritage.” Without language, what we call society would be very different: an indecipherable concept, indeed.
The results of the use language are as vast as the humankind itself. Each of us can exercise language in a unique way. Language is organic, flexible, and it is always in constant renovation. Language has been transforming and adjusting its values and meanings since its appearance, according to the society’s demands. Even though we have created very specific semantical and grammatical rules, the use of language is still susceptible to adaptation. Depending particularly of the circumstances and context where it takes place, the delivery of language can either denigrate or praise a person. “Words themselves are innocuous; it is the consensus that gives them true power,” writes Gloria Naylor in her essay ‘Nigger’: The Meaning of a Word.
As individuals, language defines us internally. As collectivity, language helps us communicating with others and to identify as a group. It is in us as human beings, and members of a society, to use language in a responsible way. Because language is the base that supports the structure of who we are: our inner selves, our personalities, our dreams, our every-day issues, our identities, and our bonds with family and friends, are all regulated by language. As John Simon writes in his delightful essay Why Good English Is Good for You: “ You are going to be judged, whether you like it or not, by the correctness of your English as much as by the correctness of your thinking.”
monday's web-disillusion
disillusion
on a phone-call superstar had
disillusion
everyone is speaking to a line
disillusion
except my illusions
why not me? because i hate cell-phones?
and those sites full of fake happiness
let's share online!
will you find a real friend there again? ha!
i talked to a man on the streets
he was stretching his hand
disillusion disillusion disillusion
stretching it for food
for compasion
for a sign...
not to look nice
disillusion
he taught me more in 2 minutes
the disillusion of mine/his life
than all the online sites
at least he was alive
nor an url to click at
disillusion
he lives in the streets
while you think what to wear to the bar
disillusion
he can be my friend
you fashion if too hype: you are a fake or a clam
worried again for the outside
the 'cool' man...
disillusion
or any technology that seems that get you closer
yet
disillusion
they cause
guess maybe wrote all my words out?
disillusion
guess exhausted my lines?
disillusion
is a monday anyway anyhow
disillusion
you look for play-friends
disillusion
friendly-people yet not friends
disillusion
ideas of warmth on a comment/reply
yet who cares if you die? just a few
and probably they are not online
guess i am on the nothingness-side
disillusion
money investments
cool friends and all that
& now even so as to is all right
oh my!
disillusion
not in me
not in life
but in the youth disconnected connected
saturday morning at the restaurant
disillusion
4 beautiful girls sat on the same table
each one holding a cell phone
disillusion
talking to someone who wasn't there
an on-going excavation in my heart
disillusion yet hasn't shown
not in hope
disillusion yet
gratitude, my style
disillusion
rather be disillusioned
than
disillusion
of haven’t through it
with a smile
overlooked
disillusion yet
doesn’t bring something flipside
oh and these are the days that i am happy
however i hate 'in vogue' ways to full-fill ones lives
yet i post on the web
what a shame... on my side
is making sick somehow all the thoughts
as human kind makes me sick
but a few and some times
not all the times
not when disillusion
makes you humble and
not when people really
truly
without fashion or money
smiles...
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