Post by This Baron of Mora on Oct 20, 2013 15:28:38 GMT -5
Language is for most of us just a means of communication (this alas includes many linguists) a 'tree' is a 'tree' and that's the simple end of it. But language is much more than that and 'language philosophy' can be quite mysterious but profound.
Why is this important?
Simple, we (especially as writers) utilize language everyday both written and spoken. Besides this fundamental is an important lesson, the knowledge the words are magic; so important is this spell that Nietzsche once claimed that atheists will not kill God until they kill grammar. Fortunately they don't seem to know that or realize that God already died.
Below I posted a link to a talk by Peter Kreeft a top notch Roman Catholic philosophy professor at Boston College and King's College that relies on J.R.R. Tolkien heavily in his talk. Perhaps the best part comes near the end where he cites George MacDonald's explanation of Revelation 2:17.
peterkreeft.com/audio/31_lotr_language-beauty.htm
Two selections:
-"Words are not labels for concepts, rather its in the words that the 'things' live, move, and have their being and in the words they come to us."
-"Words have a magical power, a power not just to communicate intellectually, not just to suggest emotionally, but a power which can produce physical effects."
Why is this important?
Simple, we (especially as writers) utilize language everyday both written and spoken. Besides this fundamental is an important lesson, the knowledge the words are magic; so important is this spell that Nietzsche once claimed that atheists will not kill God until they kill grammar. Fortunately they don't seem to know that or realize that God already died.
Below I posted a link to a talk by Peter Kreeft a top notch Roman Catholic philosophy professor at Boston College and King's College that relies on J.R.R. Tolkien heavily in his talk. Perhaps the best part comes near the end where he cites George MacDonald's explanation of Revelation 2:17.
peterkreeft.com/audio/31_lotr_language-beauty.htm
Two selections:
-"Words are not labels for concepts, rather its in the words that the 'things' live, move, and have their being and in the words they come to us."
-"Words have a magical power, a power not just to communicate intellectually, not just to suggest emotionally, but a power which can produce physical effects."