Dear Leo,
I'm trying to sort out why I have such ambivalence toward words! Clearly, I like using them! However, I too often feel misunderstood. Even when speaking English, I so often feel that others and I are not speaking the same language! I realize conversant speech, formal speech, and written language are all different uses of words. Regardless of the genre, I often find different meanings in words than what others intended, and my words often fail to convey to others what I believe they mean! It sounds like I'm making a bad choice w/ words, that the fault of failed communication is w/ me. However, I don't see it that way! I also don't believe the fault is w/ others. I really believe that human words can have so many meanings and subtle nuances that it really is the Norm to find various interpretations. I think the problem is that some interpretations are so much more popular (or so much more easily found) that many think that's the only way to understand, where-as my interpretations and perspectives tend to be of a minority. I think my relationship w/ words has much to do w/ being an INFP musician and of a mystic's life-view.
Really, given that I view language this way, it's surprising that I'm ever understood!!!
When something matters greatly to me and I want to communicate w/ someone who uses language differently, I guess I have to work harder to find ways to bridge the gap. Or maybe simply be more creative. Maybe I need to explore even more obviously different ways of using words. Like e.e. cummings did in poetry. Hmmm... I don't know if I'm gifted enough for that, but it's worth consideration!
More later,
Mack
I'm trying to sort out why I have such ambivalence toward words! Clearly, I like using them! However, I too often feel misunderstood. Even when speaking English, I so often feel that others and I are not speaking the same language! I realize conversant speech, formal speech, and written language are all different uses of words. Regardless of the genre, I often find different meanings in words than what others intended, and my words often fail to convey to others what I believe they mean! It sounds like I'm making a bad choice w/ words, that the fault of failed communication is w/ me. However, I don't see it that way! I also don't believe the fault is w/ others. I really believe that human words can have so many meanings and subtle nuances that it really is the Norm to find various interpretations. I think the problem is that some interpretations are so much more popular (or so much more easily found) that many think that's the only way to understand, where-as my interpretations and perspectives tend to be of a minority. I think my relationship w/ words has much to do w/ being an INFP musician and of a mystic's life-view.
Really, given that I view language this way, it's surprising that I'm ever understood!!!
When something matters greatly to me and I want to communicate w/ someone who uses language differently, I guess I have to work harder to find ways to bridge the gap. Or maybe simply be more creative. Maybe I need to explore even more obviously different ways of using words. Like e.e. cummings did in poetry. Hmmm... I don't know if I'm gifted enough for that, but it's worth consideration!
More later,
Mack
No comments:
Post a Comment