In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Words are important. Because we communicate in them, above all things. We use them to express ourselves to others; they are the means for us to convey what forms our beliefs, emotions, world-views, etc. So what words we choose makes a difference. There is also that amazing realm of Etymology, the study of the origin of words and their subtle characterization of the place/culture they came from.
Now here is a view that I thought was succinctly put by Raymond Williams. He says that Vocabulary involves not only "the available and developing meaning of words" but also "particular formalities of meaning--ways not only of discussing but at another level seeing many of our central experiences". (qt'd from Genders, Sexes, and Health: international journal of epidemiology).
Looking closely at his definition, one gets to appreciate that first of all there is more unsaid than what is said. Meaning that, words convey a fraction of the intricate complexion of the human brain & understanding. Secondly, one can see that words entail subtle meanings with them. Third, by understanding all these implications one gets to appreciate the gold rule of silence...say more with less.
Allah teaches Mussa (aleyhi salaam) to say "...wahlul uqdatan min lisani yafqahu qawli..." = "loosen the knot on my tongue that they may understand me". The lesson from this being that (of course apart from the history involved) the way we convey our thoughts is important for that forms the understanding among people. Hence learning how to convey something in the proper manner is quite important.
There are numorous implications to this, but for now I'll leave it at this...saying words is one things but saying more with less is a challenge...
Peace & Blessings
Hikmet
Now here is a view that I thought was succinctly put by Raymond Williams. He says that Vocabulary involves not only "the available and developing meaning of words" but also "particular formalities of meaning--ways not only of discussing but at another level seeing many of our central experiences". (qt'd from Genders, Sexes, and Health: international journal of epidemiology).
Looking closely at his definition, one gets to appreciate that first of all there is more unsaid than what is said. Meaning that, words convey a fraction of the intricate complexion of the human brain & understanding. Secondly, one can see that words entail subtle meanings with them. Third, by understanding all these implications one gets to appreciate the gold rule of silence...say more with less.
Allah teaches Mussa (aleyhi salaam) to say "...wahlul uqdatan min lisani yafqahu qawli..." = "loosen the knot on my tongue that they may understand me". The lesson from this being that (of course apart from the history involved) the way we convey our thoughts is important for that forms the understanding among people. Hence learning how to convey something in the proper manner is quite important.
There are numorous implications to this, but for now I'll leave it at this...saying words is one things but saying more with less is a challenge...
Peace & Blessings
Hikmet
1 comment:
Very interesting :)
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