“Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself; I am large, I contain multitudes.” Walt Whitman Leaves of Grass (1855).
Etymology can be beautiful and telling. The grand epic scenery of the meandering metaphores through centuries give depths to our comparably thin ending lables, the words.
We mimick reality in form of language. Then the world becomes malliable.
We think not with words nor in images, we think with what’s happeing. Concepts meaning function sentiment atmosphere clouds parables as-ifs mimesis.
Function, notion, concepts, thinking lies for many hidden under our language. The actual Word is the uppermost level, the letter, the label. Under this level, function, meaning, intention, concept, noun, verb, adjective, narrative, adage. Yet under this are connections, associations, branches to other concepts, memories, events. Like roots that branches lost in undescribable entanglements. Even under this intricacy, connections to archetypes, collective memories, age-old behaviors, into the collective unconscious. Under these xxxx, instincts, animalistic automatic behaviors. And under this, the physiology and the cellular strata.
The invention of language at one point became both necessary and possible, a growing dependancy on each other made way for experiential mutual-identification, “the” machinery required for the construction of language. With bodily and vocal mimesis, they helped each other experience. Daniel Dor
Language is reality abstracted. Reality made unreal.
BEGINNING OF SPEECH • DAWN OF CULTURE
Spoken language must have emerged out of necessity, just as our written characters were first born out of the need to organize ever-increasing prosperity, exuberant crops, uncountable sheep back in Mesopotamia and Egypt.
The trigger, the indicator to use sound with meaning, was toolmaking and hunting. Hunting might have began with gestures. Both skills improves with communication. At the same time fostering and partaking entangled in the birth of culture.
Rythmic stone knapping walking and walking the savanna. Embryo of music. Rythm hypnotic, iterations upon iterations in rythm as meditation. Most important warding wild animals off round the fire camp. The tribal birth of music.
To be continued and reiterated…