I recently decided that we all need a way to enjoy the summer, and there is no finer pleasure than the pleasure of good language. I know that some might find that declaration peculiar, or even outright incomprehensible, but I trust that those who would bother with a newsletter such as this one will nod with understanding. Language is so mysterious, so utterly strange. Out of about 40 phonemes, or significant units of sound, erupt an endless number of new sentences, new meanings, new feelings and intuitions: it is as unlikely and incomprehensible as any magic in any fantasy novel. More on that in another newsletter, or more than one. Then there is writing, a second miracle, a second form of magic, a material vehicle that contains all those sounds and their meanings as a magician’s hat contains rabbits. More on that too, later. Today I want to begin talking about the pleasures that language can afford to those of us who love it. I had intended to deal with literature: the Roman poet Horace said that the purpose of poetry was to instruct and delight, and I intend to turn to the delights of literary language next week. But for this week the notion suddenly sprang itself on me to accept the dare to talk about the pleasures of
July 22, 2022
July 22, 2022
July 22, 2022
I recently decided that we all need a way to enjoy the summer, and there is no finer pleasure than the pleasure of good language. I know that some might find that declaration peculiar, or even outright incomprehensible, but I trust that those who would bother with a newsletter such as this one will nod with understanding. Language is so mysterious, so utterly strange. Out of about 40 phonemes, or significant units of sound, erupt an endless number of new sentences, new meanings, new feelings and intuitions: it is as unlikely and incomprehensible as any magic in any fantasy novel. More on that in another newsletter, or more than one. Then there is writing, a second miracle, a second form of magic, a material vehicle that contains all those sounds and their meanings as a magician’s hat contains rabbits. More on that too, later. Today I want to begin talking about the pleasures that language can afford to those of us who love it. I had intended to deal with literature: the Roman poet Horace said that the purpose of poetry was to instruct and delight, and I intend to turn to the delights of literary language next week. But for this week the notion suddenly sprang itself on me to accept the dare to talk about the pleasures of