Human Development

Language

Description:
The structure of language can be seen to hold truths which day-to-day usage has forgotten. Thus the concept of duality equating with evil, non-unity, comes into 'dubious', 'dishonourable', 'two-timing'. Conceit and concept have the same root, as do wise and wizard. The value of words is therefore not just of themselves but the reality they manifest. In many traditions, the universe comes into existence through speech. The sacred word [Om] is the audible reflection of the unpronounceable nada sound that spoke creation into being. In Judaism it is God's name that created the universe, and reflections or interpretations of that name, the [voces magicae] or magic words, are also creative and form part of ritual, with the quality of transforming or effecting specific processes. The first chapter of Genesis, when describing creation, says "and God said, let there be....". And in Christian writings again there is 'Logos', the 'Word', as in the First Chapter of St John's gospel "In the beginning was the Word". However, words have their shortcomings. Their very discreteness leads to the perception as the things they describe as discrete entities and not part of a continuum, and this is the reason that experience is diminished when described verbally. Although verbal symbols are more precise and expressive than other communication means, they can confuse. It is for this reason that, for example, deliberate extravagances are used in Zen Buddhism - to break through 'reasonable' language to intuitive intellect.
Narrower:
Metaphysical language