There is one choice, 1 vote for Farseer's debate

Words pure and simple

This is simply a discussion about words themselves, their uses and their restrictions. The differences between speech and text, and other ways that the same ideas can be expressed just as well, or in some cases better.


  • Restrictive Language

    I had a discussion with a very close friend recently about the uses of language. She and I are both poets to some degree (though she has yet to put more than one of pieces on allpoetry) and she has a great love for the ability of metaphor to show feelings and emotions. I am of the opinion that words are almost completely unable to show the true emotion behind that created them, especially written word. With speech alone you can get closer due to tone and inflection which is virtually impossible to show in a written piece. Slightly better than that is face to face speech where facial expression and body language can also get meaning across. But still this is imperfect. How many times have you had a deep and meaningful conversation with someone, trying every way you know how (descriptive words, gestures etc) to get them to understand exactly what you mean and failed? And how many times have you been with a close friend and simply looked at them and knew that they completely understood with a single syllable being uttered? I feel that words are by far most useful as a means of giving information, simple data, and that for someone to truly understand your emotions, there has to be a natural empathy there that allows you to feel the emotion rather than reading or hearing it. When I read a poem that's sad, it does stir emotions. I feel sorry for the writer and wish things were better/easier for them, but I do not actually feel what they feel. I can often remember times that I felt very similar feelings to what I THINK they're feeling, and rekindle them, but it's not truly feeling what they are trying to express. Anyway, if you've bothered to read this rant for thins long I would like to hear your opinions of the restrictiveness of language, or why you disagree with me, or well anything about how you use words and how you think they're most effective. Thanks

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