Communication

[jackofallgeeks]

So, I was reading Megan's Most Recent Post, and thought I might post something on communication. Sadly, I'm not sure what I have to say on the subject. How absolutely appropriate.

I love language. It's actually an odd phenomenon if I think about it long enough. Both Leslie and Gene - two pewople I have known for a great length of time - seem fascinated with Language. My brother Josh also takes an interest, mostly in 'dead' languages like latin, greek, and french. looking around my current circle of friends, Beth, Rae, and Tara are all interested enough in Language to study it in depth.

Somehow, I think my love of language is similar to all of theirs and yet... different. Estranged, in a way I can't explain, only that I feel I don't wrap my mind around it the same way they do. It may seem obvious, and the difference may be impossible to find, but I'm interested in language insofar as it it communicates. As I mentioned to Hexxy in a comment on Leslie's Journal, I don't care so much WHAT terms you use, so long as they are defined precisely and used consistantly.

I admire a number of my friends, Nifer, Louis, and Rachel, because of the way they seem to be able to communicate. Nifer, as you may know, conveys meaning in her writing (especially her lyrics) in ways I can only hope to emulate. I'm afraid my praise comes too often for it to be taken seriously, but Louis seems to have a way of conveying thought that I don't believe I could touch if I tried. Rachel has Theatre, which I admire in general, but it is also another form of communication which I do not possess.

I've rather lost my train of thought due to exhaustion. Let's see if I can finish up my last few points.

Firstly, Megan said something about not opening up. I, myself, have learned that I like to tralk, and have realized on occation that I have a tendancy, especially when I feel really comfortable, to pick up a conversation and run with it. I talk too much. Infact, I'm quite confident that I would tell my life story to anyone willing to listen. I think that might say something about me.

It occures to me that I find deep significance where other likely do not. I find profound statements in ordinary comments, made in passing. "Art requires contrast," for example, I saw sometime today and it just jumped out at me as strikingly meaningful, in scopes well beyond simply the artistic.

All today I was itching for a little verbal sparing, some intellectual combat if you will. Just a little back and forth play with someone on some subject or another. I would perhaps approach Kincaid, except that I fear she could quite succinctly shred me to ribbons. I suppose I admire her ability to communicate as well.

I hate it when I have a great inspiration for posting, and then my brain starts shutting down half-way through.
I know I have alot more to say, I just can't think of how to say it.
How absolutely appropriate.

Comments

[surichan.livejournal.com]

I had no idea that English and Irish songs were handed down and became bluegrass! That's so interesting. Geez, you're a regular font of knowledge.

Ooh, one of the two Cave songs I have, "Where the Wild Roses Grow" just came on. Musta known I was writing to you. ::grins::

I'm sure Kansai-ben sounds just the same as proper Japanese to the untrained ear. ^_^ First time I heard it, though, I was like, "Wow, I didn't understand a word of that!" and I'm pretty good at Japanese, so I could hardly believe it was the same language. It's fascinating, the little differences in intonation and words that make it sound totally different. And of course, then there are the differences in thickness of the dialect...it's so multi-layered. Makes me wonder how foreigners who've studied English cope the first time they hear Ebonics (::snort::) or an accent from the Deep South. If you wanna hear Kansai-ben, I could make some sound files or something. It's pretty, even if you can't understand it.

I'm very happy to bring out your rants! I love reading them. Learning about and understanding people thrills me. And I think it should be obvious to anyone who does that any grammatical/spelling errors you may make are in no way indicative of your intellect. I've known some real idiots with impeccable spelling. ::grins and points at self::


::laughs:: Damn, Andrew - have you ever had a third-party conversation on your comments list before? I can't remember having ever seen one.

Re:

[riverbank.livejournal.com]

sorry server is too slow for that *sob*...someday.
it's sorta weird that we're having conversations about accents but can't hear a d#*n thing

[surichan.livejournal.com]

More's the pity. I think I'd fly out there to see you just to have the chance to talk face-to-face with you about things. But, as I've said, I'm too curious about human motivation for my own good. ::smiles sheepishly::

Re:

[riverbank.livejournal.com]

mmm...wonder if i still have some sort of accent when people hear me?. you know how easy it is to not notice these things. do you have one?

[surichan.livejournal.com]

What do you mean by "still" have an accent? Did you grow up with one?

I think I have what is known as a "neutral" American accent. That's what I've percieved from listening to my own voice and having people tell me how they think I sound. Some guy in a gas station once told me I sound like I'm from Montana, and me and roommate looked at him funny and threatened to beat him with my Slim Jim.

Re:

[riverbank.livejournal.com]

lol, what a jerk... whawha

i spent the first 18yrs of my life on a farm sorta near where mark twain's stories are based (hannibal, missuri) and lincoln's 'hometown' (springfield, il) right on the river. i think i had a bit of a broad accent, cause now that i'm away i notice how much my relatives have them.

every so often a stranger will comment, i guess i say something that sounds widwestern. but i think it's worn off mostly plus when i was a teen i made attempts not to sound 'hick'
you mean 'tv american' when you say neutral right?

[surichan.livejournal.com]

::laughs:: Yeah, "TV American" probably says it all.

[jackofallgeeks.livejournal.com]

I just NOW got the LJ-Reply e-mail notification for this comment.
Not only is this notable for how effin' long it's taken it to get here, but also because I've been getting all my other notifications no problem. Including Leslie's reply to THIS post.
Weird.

This is an A and B conversation...

[jackofallgeeks.livejournal.com]

Ha, I think you're right, I have never had a 3rd Party conversation. And now I've had two, both including you!
I can't say I really mind, though. Firstly, I figure it's my journal, so if I see something interesting, I'll just but in whenever. I should hope anyone posting here would have the same attitude - if you have something to say, say it.
Additionally, I imagine that if it did bother me, I would say something about it or somesuch.
So, yes.. Talk amongst yourselves. ^_^;;

[surichan.livejournal.com]

I've always thought it's kinda neat when people talk in my comments list. One guy I know, though, when me and Amanda had a chat in his, got pissed off at us for not being "pertinant" - which I assume means because we weren't talking to him, what we had to say obviously had no bearing on the post. ::rolls eyes:: People...