Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Lingua Pura

The pure language is the one without words.

Surprised? Don't be. If "communication" is the activity of clearly conveying information, and if "language" is the accepted medium, then we cannot afford to miss the language without words. And we certainly cannot afford not to understand it. For, nothing can ever be "communicated" better with words than without.

Languages have evolved over time. Words have been borrowed and lent; idioms and pharases have been "coined"; lexicons continue to be revised. Have languages really improved? Or have they only become more and more complex with time?

For instance, look at these sentences:
"The chicken is ready for lunch" and "The children are ready for lunch"
"A jail is a prison" but "A jailer is not a prisoner"

Now, let us consider a word at random: Is "Crib" a verb or a noun?
In "crib a construction hole", crib is a verb, which means "line with beams or planks".
To crib is also to cheat, to copy or to steal.
As a noun, crib could be a baby bed with high sides made of slats, it could be a bin or granary for storing grains, or it could mean the cards discarded by players at cribbage.
In cryptanalysis, a crib is a sample of known plaintext.

In addition to the above, we also have to be concerned with issues such as differences in accents, cultural influences that alter the definition of words or even sentences, idiosyncrasies of spellings, "twists" of grammar, infiltration of "slangs", to name only a few.

What, then, is the result of evolution? Firstly, we are unsure of communicating what we are trying to. Secondly, our "medium" with words is not "pure".

"Lingua Pura" is the one that has no words, it depends on no words to convey information. Therefore, it can convey clearly, it can convey exactly. It is the one true "universal" language.

23 comments:

NaiKutti said...

good thoughts... languages have definitely become more complex with time... no disagreeing that... and its highly likely people can misinterpret what you mean depending on the words we choose....

people who are not able to speak communicate through actions and there too there are differences... is Lingua Pura one where people communicate through actions or just eye-to-eye contact?... something (words, actions, images, etc.,) forms the basis of any language, does Lingua Pura have this basis?

well, if Lingua Pura had been there, would i would have missed this blog :-)?

~*. D E E P A .* ~ said...

thanx for stopping by :)

shall definitely stop by often :)

btw , i love Pink Floyd :)

teacup said...

hey!! thanks for dropping by and keep visiting:)
...and yes I agree that language has evloved over the years...has got more than complicated...but I don't know about the "nothing can ever be "communicated" better with words than without."...sometimes yes, but we need words to express ourselves better, me thinks...also the evolution of language is more so for our benefit...tho sometimes it may deflect from that purpose...and is Lingua pura a sign language or something?? dint get it...

Keshi said...

wow interesting concept...I always thought that words complicate feelings...cos they dun really convey the exact emotion...some emotions dun even have words!

But what sort of technique does Lingua Pura use?

Keshi.

still_figuring_out said...

hi, thanks for visiting my blog! i agree with keshi, that words do complicate life. they certainly complicate mine at times. when i am in an unpleasant situation, my words seem to be misunderstood, and it actually puts me in a tighter spot than i was before uttering them.

Jewel Rays said...

"For, nothing can ever be "communicated" better with words than without."
Well i guess somehow when it comes to this. Words probably tend to provide a better & clearer description also depending on the type of words we express with i feel.

In addition to the above, we also have to be concerned with issues such as differences in accents, cultural influences that alter the definition of words or even sentences

Hmm..so true. Accent can really play a slightly heavier role sometimes when it comes to communicating impt information. the slurs and so on can sometimes irritate a person. i guess its a matter of adjustment.:)

A very unique post. something not many people address..

great stuff pradeep. :)

Queen Bee said...

Still believe the beauty of words is: although misinterpretation occurs, the bulk of it is conveyed while the rest just plays to beautify it or the other way round. Each time you read a word, its meaning changes according to your context. Many possibilities unfold thus it is beautiful to the reader.

PNA said...

i perfectly understand the problem, the twists and truns in the language ...

foe example ....
one who works is a worker
but is one who cooks a cooker? he is a chef isn't it ....

lingua pura ....a language without words ....mmmm have to think about as there is no existence without words most of the times ...

afternoon Pradeep ...
Ash

Pradeep Puranik said...

First of all, a hearty welcome to all the new friends who have joined us here. Hope you enjoy your stay here. Keep visitng.


And now... (Reads comments)


Oh Boy! (Laughs)
Looks like I posted too much, too soon, this time!
It is really wonderful to read diverse points of view.
Let's see, now (Rubbing palms together)...


Amy: Words... provide a better and clearer description...
Prad: Better and clearer in comparison to what, dear?


Amy: ...depending on the type of words we express with.
Prad: That "depending on" is the very uncertainty I am talking about.


QB: Each time you read a word, its meaning changes according to your context.
Prad: Precicely. That is the trouble with words.


QB: Many possibilities unfold; thus it is beautiful to the reader.
Prad: Communication is not about concealing messages in beautiful word-play; it is about conveying precise information to the reader. It is very disturbing to a writer/speaker when the reader/listener misunderstands the message.


SFO: ...my words seem to be misunderstood, and it actually puts me in a tighter spot than i was before uttering them.
Prad: Exactly my sentiments too, friend. Well said.


Keshi: ...because they (words) don't really convey the exact (intended) emotion... Some emotions don't even have words.
Prad: I cannot disagree.


NaiKutti: Something (words, actions, images, etc.) forms the basis of any language, does Lingua Pura have this basis?
Prad: Interestingly, no. No words, no actions, no images. Not even music! No variables. That is why it is pure.


Yashita: Is Lingua pura a sign language?
Prad: Sign language cannot be considered pure, because the interpretation depends on several variables.


Keshi: What sort of technique does Lingua Pura use?
Prad: Wonderful! An open-ended question!
Sometimes I wonder: How is gut feeling communicated? What technique is love at first sight? what technique does the ocean use to communicate with storms?


Ash: There is no existence without words most of the times...
Prad: I shall try my best to explain this. Long before you chose the words to write this comment, you weighed the concept in your mind. The concept did not depend on any words. Words were the last coat of paint, which you applied before transmitting the concept. Thinking never depends on words. Thoughts are pure, until we bind them in the limiting shackles of words. Communication of ideas without a variable medium is the essence of lingua pura. I hope that made sense.


NaiKutti: Well, if Lingua Pura had been there, would i have missed this blog?
Prad: The pure language exists; whether we learn to understand it or not is our choice.


Thank you, one and all, for your wonderful encouragement and support.


Dear Amy,
My next post will be about disintegration of marriages. So you are specially invited ;)


**SMILES**

Keshi said...

**How is gut feeling communicated?

through some electric vibes in us...and into the brain it goes...


**What technique is love at first sight?

Chemical reactions to certain external triggers I suppose..


**what technique does the ocean use to communicate with storms?

Nature...God's theories :)


I dunno...was just trying hard to answer ur genius Qs :) did I fail? :(

Keshi.

Jewel Rays said...

:) Thats sweet of ya pradeep..Will drop by for sure..;)

I am linking ya.:)

Jewel Rays said...

Hi Pradeep,

You have been tagged by me. Check out ma blog..:)

thanks

Pradeep Puranik said...

Dear Keshi,
You have certainly not failed. In fact, you have answered your own question. Those are the techniques of Lingua Pura. :)


Dear Amy,
Call me psychic, but I did have the strong sensation yesterday that you were about to tag me! Hope it is something interesting. I'll check your blog. (-smiles-)

Queen Bee said...

Hi Pradeep, agrees on the part that it will be disturbing to a writer/speaker when the reader/listener misunderstands the message, Esp if the meaning intended is very precise.

Feel that it may be good to give some leeways for other interpretations in some cases (provided that the interpretation is not totally off the point); sometimes the discussion may be brought further to a different level than what it has intended in the first place. Yes?

Pradeep Puranik said...

Hi, Queen Bee!
Yes, I agree.

Btw, did you know that Remo sang about you?

:
:
The queen bee buzzes
on shattered wings
across the barn

Trying to pick pollen
from the plastic flowers
in the sun
:
:


That was from the album, Bombay City, by Remo. It is a good song.

(-smiles-)
See you!

Ashley said...

Vannakam? Namaste? Bagunnara? (I don't know how to greet people in Kannada if that happens to be your mother tongue.... since you are from Mangalore) :)

I found your blog via Miladysa's blog.

I tend to obsess over languages and I appreciate your thoughts on the subject. Interesting post.

Cheers!

Keshi said...

wow very intriguing...

Keshi.

Queen Bee said...

:) Will check out the song tonight or this weekend ;P

Have a good weekend!

Pradeep Puranik said...

Hi, Ashey!
Welcome to the Endless Chasm. Hope you enjoy your stay here. Feel free to wander about and read the articles and poems. Always open to comments.

If you want to greet in Kannada, you say "Namaskara"

Kannada is one of the vernaculars in our state. But my mothertongue happens to be Konkni - Namaste is good enough.

Cheers!

Jewel Rays said...

haha Pradeep

You are psychic cause i did tag you man..:)

Pradeep Puranik said...

Hey Amy, I will return the favor, one way or another, soon. ;)
HAHAHAHAHA!!! :p

PNA said...

hey pradeep

i perfectly understood what u are talking about as it was something i researched on in college during a linguistics course ....

yes ideas in the mind which gets translated into words ..and if it is another language well there is double or triple translation from ideas to language A then to language B and then to words ....

well still i guess to communicate the ideas in our head to the world as in somedoby else words are the best medium

there are ways ...
painting...music....dance ....and sign languages ...etc

if u ask me to explain what is happening in a bharatanatyam performance i might not be able to say as the audience is limited but all of us use words ...

and ultimatly it depends on the scenario ....
sometimes silence also speaks..a mere touch too says volumes ...

i guess words dominate ...
Ash

Pradeep Puranik said...

Dear Ash,
Thank you for those thoughts. Keep visiting. :)