tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744110994681343975.post3639492995651765895..comments2011-12-22T13:43:04.478-08:00Comments on Renewable Language: Language AliveAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17829468231281872965noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744110994681343975.post-27696845555073194132009-04-30T11:36:00.000-07:002009-04-30T11:36:00.000-07:00It amazes me how many people use words and phrases...It amazes me how many people use words and phrases that they use only because the context seems to fit with whatever experience they have hearing it in the past. There is a guy that I work with who excuses a lot of what he says by saying that he was just being "facetious". It reminds me of Viscinni in 'The Princess Bride' with "inconceivalbe". "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."<br /><br />Older phrases seem to elude many people too. I know a hairdresser that calls it a "Catch twenty" instead of the proper "Catch twenty-two" and even after a bit of research I still don't know if it's "bold faced lie" or "bald faced lie". There are so many other examples that I can't even think of right now, but it's definitely something I've taken notice of that makes me try to be more intentional with my own speech.Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17859845568277143073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744110994681343975.post-39486149570116152232009-03-25T10:10:00.000-07:002009-03-25T10:10:00.000-07:00No need to shamelessly plus. I'd already visited p...No need to shamelessly plus. I'd already visited previously. :)<BR/><BR/>As for grappling, i don't think i can tell you exactly how you can work out the reimagination of language in your own field. I think, in many ways, this is like practicing your faith: you and i can both follow Jesus in different ways based on our vocations. (That's not to say there are many ways to get to God, but that based on who we are as individuals, God meets us at different places and takes us on different journeys.)<BR/><BR/>What i can do is tell you how i attempt to work this out, and you can attempt to somehow fit that into your way of life.<BR/><BR/>I try to avoid using old words that don't hold meaning any more. Like when praying, i don't ask for a "hedge of protection" around people. Or how i try not to call myself a Christian, and instead refer to myself as one who follows Jesus. Also, when people use dead language themselves, i attempt to look past it, or to ask them to clarify what they mean so i can better understand.<BR/><BR/>Remember, the prophets were some of the first people to use imaginative language and reinvigorate life into things. As a theologian, you follow, in some way, in their footsteps.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17829468231281872965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744110994681343975.post-26341024722978728362009-03-25T08:08:00.000-07:002009-03-25T08:08:00.000-07:00ah the privilege of asking the questions... :-) So...ah the privilege of asking the questions... :-) So, then, how do we grapple with it? I like these musings. They very much hit on things that interest me but that I don't really "work on" myself per se. How can I be more imaginative, how can I "do things" with language, especially in a field like theology or anthropology where there are certain sorts of expectations that measure when one is "actually doing" the kind of work that "theology is" or "anthropology is" etc? Where is the entry point for reinvigorating the discourse? <BR/><BR/>Shameless plug: check out my own blog at http://anti-theses.blogspot.com/ Also fairly new, and I don't post more than once a week or so. On a variety of topics.Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09851399845446333912noreply@blogger.com