The Shape of Language

"Language does not exist apart from thought, and thought does not exist apart from language; they are one and the same."

James Berlin--Rhetoric and Reality

Let's launch this discussion with a conversation about "language."  How does language define our reality?  Move the definition of language beyond words and text to all forms of language--the language of our world.  Consider the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the ambitions that define us, the stories that we choose to tell (and the information we leave out), the music we listen to, the movies we watch, our belief systems, our desires, fears, and insecurities.  How do these languages shape the person, the man, the woman, the son, or the daughter?  How do these outside influences give shape to our personal narratives?  

This week, force yourself to become aware of language.  Take an hour to explore your community or city with a notebook and pen.  While you're on this scenic tour, take in the sights and sounds of language.  Notice how text is used in your communities... street signs, advertisements, graffiti, storefronts.  Notice dialogue between friends and strangers and your elders.  Observe body language and facial expressions.   Watch how language shifts as you move into different settings:  A cafe, a club, a party, the classroom, a bank, your job.

In your post, describe a scene as it unfolds.  Choose a gas station, a market, a soccer game, a bus ride, a street corner, a movie theatre, a clothing store.  When you submit your observation, however, include more than striking scene description or dialogue.  Attempt to notice what language emerges from the environment.  How does it inform or shape your personal reactions? Consider how your own life experiences, attitude, beliefs, doubts, or wants color your reflection. Most important, make the connection and find the shape of language.