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Thursday, April 03, 2003

"Language Keeps Me Locked and Repeating"

At a young age, we all start to open our mouths and exercise words in mimicry of those around us, thus the beginning processes of linguistics. From that point, we build up a lexicon of vocabulary, a grasp on grammar, and standardly-accepted deviations. One would be lead to think that with such a significant portion of our existence being devoted to culling the skill of communication and language, it wouldn't be such a daily nuance of our society. One would also believe that with such a vital part of any relationship and social interaction hinging on the homogenous quality of words and phrases, there wouldn't be a wide range of discrepancies and ambiguities to muddle through in order to come to a consensus on meaning. However, contrary to practicality, we bicker over definitions and meanings over and over, leaving, at least, the English language a mess of entendres, double entendres, triple entendres, and on and on . . . Hour to hour, a word finds a new context, a new meaning, or it loses one or two or three. By the time I'm done writing this, there'll be a new way to interpret the word interpret and a new way to use the word use. We "use" drugs, we "use" people, we "use" utilities, we "use" resources, we "use" our bodies. I think you get the picture, here; that being a phrase nobody would've understood the implications of half a century ago, probably. It is quite plausible to make a career out of redefining terms for the mere purpose of adding confusion to the language, some call it Philosophy, others call it Religion, some call it Poetry . . . And it's not that I'm innocent of adding vagueness to my speech and writing, just for the artististry of words. What am I getting at? How opaque the glass is that we peer into the world through.

I am rambling, I digress.

" . . . These stacks, they keep me down, so I build some more. America is just a word, but I use it. Language keeps me locked and repeating. This time is real, I see it passing by the avenue, nothing to do now, there's nothing to do. I see them spinning on, so I spin out. America is just a word, but I use it. Language keeps me locked and repeating . . ." - Fugazi's "Stacks"