If we ask ourselves one question, "What is language?", we would get a simple answer that language is a set of symbols that we use to communicate with each other. It may be either verbal or non-verbal. Since ages we have created signs and symbols and have assigned 'shared' meanings to each of them. Many of these signs seem to continue to depict the same meaning through out. But some other signs mean different things at different times.
The purpose of communication is to communicate a message clearly to the receiver. But when the signs we create start becoming contradictory to their own meaning, the whole concept of language starts looking funny.
Whoever had assigned the meaning of the colour "orange" to the word "naarangi", must have had some mischief in her mind. These words can mean completely opposite things at the same time. This makes us think and rethink the level of importance we give to words in our daily lives. Are words mere carriers of literal meaning or they carry a lot of other hidden motives? Do words actually add meaning to our lives, or are they mere illusions? The language needs to be created with responsibility to make it more understandable. Otherwise, it will fill the society with contradictions and myths. But who takes the responsibility of shaping language in first place?
The purpose of communication is to communicate a message clearly to the receiver. But when the signs we create start becoming contradictory to their own meaning, the whole concept of language starts looking funny.
Kabir, the great Indian saint and poet, laments about the vagaries of language:
Chalti ka naam gaadi
Maal ko kehtey hain khoya
Rangeen ka naam narangi
Dekh Kabira roya
[What moves is called interred/ vehicle
Commodity is called lost/ desiccated milk
What is colorful is called colourless/ orange
On observing these, weeps Kabir!]
Source: The Tenth Rasa by Michael Heyman
Whoever had assigned the meaning of the colour "orange" to the word "naarangi", must have had some mischief in her mind. These words can mean completely opposite things at the same time. This makes us think and rethink the level of importance we give to words in our daily lives. Are words mere carriers of literal meaning or they carry a lot of other hidden motives? Do words actually add meaning to our lives, or are they mere illusions? The language needs to be created with responsibility to make it more understandable. Otherwise, it will fill the society with contradictions and myths. But who takes the responsibility of shaping language in first place?
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