Wednesday, July 11, 2012

A paradox called language!


What is language? If one tries to search for the definition, it would be  'A body of words and the system for their use common to the people of the same community or nation, same geographical area or cultural tradition".
So language, is a system, bound by the obdurate rules of grammar. From the earliest of our schooling days, we are taught how to be within the boundaries of grammar, so that we become "good" speakers and writers of the same. But language is not static. It keeps on changing. So does the boundaries.Paradox.
The primary purpose of language is to communicate. So even if differences lie in between a sender of a message and a receiver of the same, if the message is correctly conveyed then the purpose is served. But these differences , when unleashed may lead to complete chaos as one cannot understand another person. Thus language remains quintessential. Paradox.
We as children are taught language, for it to be precise and so on. Then the same teacher takes the students into the world of poetry and talks about "poetic licence" and how the language is twisted, turned and modified. But when we see a board like the one posted above, its bad language! Paradox.
To conclude language is a dynamic system of contradictions and paradoxes, every one is forced to learn and unlearn, as dynamically as the language itself.
Of the three languages i know, i forgot to mention one paradox. English. 

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