This essay looks at some key concepts related to the human condition and our use of language.
As far as we know, human language is unique. I am not saying other animals do not communicate via sound, action or signs. They do. Rather, what makes human language unique lies in its complexity.
Through human language, we can create a shared understanding about the world, explore possible futures, decide what future we want and then coordinate actions to create it. We can create complex social structures based on moral codes and the rule of law. We can seek to seek to define who we want to become as an individual and strive to be that person. Indeed, through language, we build the social realities in which we all live. No other animals use language with such complexity, yet most of us are unaware of the role language plays in our daily life and pay little or no attention to how we use it.
I have heard it argued that we do the best we can with the language we have but I have to disagree with that position. Our lack of awareness and skill in our use of language leads to many of our challenges and much of our suffering. We can do better and this essay outlines some ideas about how to see language in a different way. Other essays will further elaborate these ideas as they can be applied to everyday life.
The essay includes in-depth discussions on:
A different way of thinking about language and the role it plays in our lives
An exploration of listening
The way in which we use language to build stories about the world and create our social reality
