Friday, July 1, 2011

the Corb of language

The more I think about it, the more I think life is about the conversation. The good, the bad, damaging and healing, speech and communication govern our lives. Sure we inhabit buildings for more than 80% of our time here, but we are so more trapped by language. I think I like chasing mysteries, the things that I just don't feel are "correctly" explained to me, and with them I try and struggle. And right now my mind can't get around the immensity that is language. It is also a pertinent topic, maybe not just for myself, but for my generation to grapple as language is constantly being manipulated. Like in architecture,where forms and materials are being manipulated as time goes on, language is being manipulated in its form, use, and analogical understanding. For some reason, I feel like I can let-go of my nostalgia of old architectural styles, sure my heart will always be more moved by a creation of the Spanish Moors than of Zaha Hadid or Eisenmann, but for some reason it just feels wrong to say the same of old languages. As of right now I am not interested in the "historic preservation" facet of linguistics - it interests me and concerns me - but I feel like the people in this camp are pursuing somewhat unrealistic, pitiful goals. I am much more interested in the evolutionary/ theoretical side of linguistics, how and why there is language, what it does to us and what control we have over it. I think my main concern with this side of things, is delving too deeply into AI... a side of philosophy and modernity... a fad I'd like to say that really gets me on my bad side - another thing I think linguists are wasting their time on. So I guess in both worlds - architecture and philosophy - I am somewhat of a traditionalist. I prefer old methods, and looking at old models to influence my own work, I'm not so enamored or convinced by the current trends [but I can certainly keep up with them and play along if need be]. But hey - Corb did the same - and I have no problem with shadowing his ancients-appreciating technique.

- c

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