Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Words.....Simply Words

Early Prehistory Cuneiform Clay Tablet


Once upon a time, when humanity was in its early stages of evolution, primitive man use to feel awkward every time he experienced something. Whether it be a successful hunt or the  burning pain of a deep wound, something use to build up inside him and he just could never vent out.

The frustration would have been unimaginable by todays standards. After all he only knew the simplest of our rudimentary expressions which was to groan, to smile, to cry and to scream. However, something was very wrong and  terribly incomplete, to our way of thinking.

As time progressed, humans began to understand the hollowness of these simple expressions. Within their developing brain and mind, a quest for real meaning became more rampant. After a while the need to make themselves understood grew ever more intense. Man, at some moment, made a breakthrough for human beings.

A way was  discovered  to relate to others of his species what he knew beyond sign language! The best way to form thoughts and expressions with a meaning. Words, sounds that were made by the speaker and their meanings were understood by those who heard them.

They say that the invention of the wheel was the turning point in our history . It was quite a significant step in the development of humanity. But I think that I would rather say that the first word ever spoken, is of far greater significance than anything else.

Just imagine our life without having the use of these words. What would remain there, silence or simply a frighting void? It would be an isolating terribly lonely sheer void, my friends!

It would be something that we might imagined for someone born deaf, who remained unschooled in signing of any kind. It would be like suffering total amnesia from a stroke or head trauma and existing in that state without knowing how to make contact with anyone else. It would be akin to being placed in solitary confinement or stranded on a deserted island without any books or human contact of any kind.

Not a very desirable situation to find yourself in. That is something I'm certain everyone will agree with. There are times, when, we take these words for granted. Then one day, there comes a moment, when we might experience the deepest emotion and all we want to do is search for that single word or expression to describe it. For all our great intellect, very often we still feel quite clueless, at such a moment.

It is by using words that we are able to think. It is words that enable us to speak. They embody our thoughts, they embody our emotions and they embody our dreams. Words have powers that sometimes transcend our estimates. Sometimes a simple word can heal a battered soul. Together few words can be woven into a beautiful verse. Words are used to instill belief. Words can help us preserve our faith.

Words allow us to spell out our love. Words have a power to enchant people and uplift souls from the depths of ultimate gloom.  Yet words, on the other hand, can also hurt and leave a scar that even time may not erase. With words we can transform an angel into a devil and create an essence of evil forever.

The most mesmerizing capacity of words is, however, the way they are used to embody our emotions. Every word and its pronunciation have a specific meaning and expression. The way that we realize it, after pronouncing the word, is something truly phenomenal. For example, when we say ‘Dazzle’, it feels as if some unknown delight is dancing on our tongue. This is one of thr truly exceptional hallmarks of words.

We human have one insatiable need for personal expression. We constantly crave for a unique way to express ourselves completely. Over the years, we have found our refuge in our creative arts such as  Music, Colours and most importantly Words.

However, the reason words have assumed utmost significance is because their pristine simplicity. They are more deeply humane than any other form of expressions. Language is the way that we communicate with others and through the words that we use we define ourselves as well!

Words are sublime and words are subliminal too. If some words are divine then some words are true evil. Words are crude and words are rough. Words are tender and delicate too, just like, we human-beings are. After all is said and done there is one undeniable truth, my friends. They are words, simply words.


9 comments:

Lady Wordsmith said...

Do you think that's how it was when language was developing over thousands of years? I don't know. If language was in use, and was then taken away, I think it would be as you described, lonely and isolating. But language developed over a long, long period of time, did it not? We were still very animalistic in our actions and forms of communication when we first began to speak - if we look at other animals (not only apes) we see that they can communicate, and that they can express affection, and they don't appear to be in any particular distress or feeling terribly frustrated at their inability to communicate meaning effectively. Just today I heard something on the radio about new research showing that chimpanzees (possibly it was chimpanzees, I'm not entirely sure - apologies!) are able to communicate more clearly with each other than we had suspected, yet they do not use words (as we know them at least). I would imagine that before we could speak words, we could communicate in so many other ways, just as animals today can. Since the development of language happened over such a long period of time (and of course, continues to happen to this day), and probably without the users of the new language even being aware of what is happening (as we can be aware with the benefit of hindsight) I rather think that it is more likely that life just plodded on in an ordinary day to day fashion. Those are just my thoughts on the matter :)

I don't deny that the development of language is a more significant and important step than the invention of the wheel. And I wholeheartedly concur with everything you have said about the usefulness of words, and their potential to excite every kind of emotion and to influence life in countless different ways, both expected and unexpected. Words are simply wonderful, and I love them.

Linda.

Unknown said...

@ Lady Wordsmith -

First of all, thank you very much for the read and insightful comment.

I have to admit that my though process is biased, if that is the correct word. Biased in the sense, there is a influence of our perspective, of 21st century's people.

The duration of evolution process and the amount of time all the languages took to develop is really humongous. We can safely say that with each stage of evolution, language developed accordingly as well. Developing languages actually mirror the developing human mind.

In case of animals, yes they indeed have their means of communication. I will search for the info about the research on Chimpanzees as well, seems like an interesting one.

Thanks a lot once again :)

Chinmay

Anonymous said...

Angel aka the Philosopher said...

There are so many ways in which we can express ourselves, in so many areas of our lives my friend.

Words are very important for writers. A very interesting and thought provoking piece. :)..
Regards,
Angel

AkaProfessorM said...

@Lady Wordsmith: Linda, As I see it, the viewpoint that Chinmay is aiming for, is the sheer magnitude of the importance of the Communication medium "Words", rather than the accuracy of the timeline and how such was achieved. That animals of the same type or species can communicate is proven.

Now the ability of some to understand sign language to the degree of conveying their basic wants and needs, is well established in zoological and anthropological case studies.

The appreciation of such a discovery in establishing a communication breakthrough, is what we understand from the author's position and it opens the topic up to discussion as to the merits of this method.

Thanks for weighing in and opening the topic with your views, Lady Wordsmith. Regards Mike AKA the Professor!

AkaProfessorM said...

@Chinmay: The idea of establishing these correlations of the various mediums such as Music, Arts and Words, was one which I personally enjoyed, Chinmay. I have always maintained the interaction of these themes and how each can and does promote the principles of our creative in every medium.

Thank you for completing this trilogy and displaying it on the Professor's Write Site. Regards Mike AKA the Professor!

AkaProfessorM said...

@ Angel aka the Philosopher: Thank you for dropping by and adding your voice to the discussion, Angel!

The way you weave your philosophies and the tips that you provide here, shows the degree that you understand the importance of words in our daily lives.

Thanks Again, Angel! Regards Mike AKA the Professor! ;D

Jacob Waring said...

Language is not just confined to spoken words or by the tongue as it can take a form of art and in my case in the forms of my hands as I express myself through the use of ASL.

There is a huge misconceptions on the linguistics of spoken words/languages.

Animals have Language too but because humans are egoistical creatures we just assume spoken words are the only form of language and of utilizing words.

Unknown said...

@ Angel

Thanks ma'am, am glad that you enjoyed this little piece of work. Thanks for the kind words and all the tips that you keep giving us here :)

Unknown said...

@ Professor

Sir, it is my pleasure to write here and to see my work amongst your work, angel's work. These three mediums are very close to me as well. They have been a blessing. That is why I decided to write something on them.

I am glad that I can contribute to this wonderful site in my little way, and I will try to keep it up :)