Words are more than symbols.

Discussion in 'Linguistics' started by pljames, Apr 27, 2013.

  1. pljames Registered Member

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    83
    Symbols are ($#@!&^). Words come from characters (a-z) and make words. Words are a vehicle to understanding. It seems when we see a word it bounces from what we see to our memory which relates it to stored words in our memory. In memory we see by relating the word to it's synonyms and with pictures as well. The marvel of the brain and mind. Language is necessary to grow in knowledge, be it spoken written. Be it edited or interpreted. I love words, there meaning and language. How else can we grow in wisdom, without language? Thoughts please? Paul
     
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  3. wellwisher Banned Banned

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    Words provide differential meaning, while symbols provide integral meaning. The Statue of Liberty, as words, represents that big Green statue in New York Harbor; a specific thing. As a symbol, the statue of Lady Liberty represents the abstract concept of liberty. The symbol or abstraction called "liberty", can take books to describe in all its details and subtleties; compressed block data.

    A symbol is a type of compressed language, which is interpreted intuitively, because it very dense and does not have definitive boundaries like words. Different authors will continue to push the frontier of the meaning. Most people will not studies books on just the symbolism of liberty, but will nevertheless sense the gist of what it means, via a gut feeling. It may be hard for the average person to put it into words, but they feel it. This feeling for some, decompresses into hundred of pages of words. We can read the book and empathize with the decompressed data, since this is part of the zip file but was below consciousness until it was expressed with language.

    Symbols are the language of the right brain, while words are the language of the left brain. In the case of writing a book on liberty, the right brain symbol is decompressed (zip file) and expanded into left brain words.

    It is possible to use symbols (block data) like words, to create a symbolic language. This language is interpreted with the subtleties of intuitive feelings. It is more of an internal language that is not easy to transfer. The final result would be decompressed into words but might appear to come out of nowhere, but were the product of symbolic logic decompressed. This is the original right brain language.

    Let give an example of the right brain language. Say you get hungry. This instinct is very flexible and has a long history of memory of your food gathering, items and preparation in various settings; data base. This block data begins in the right brain. When it transfer to left brain a specific range of food items will appear in the mind; pizza and beer. This may not be the same as your friends who want subs because their block data partially decompressed differently into a differential thought. The intuitive symbols, which began as a feeling of hunger, can be translated in many ways, since it is compressed data and any given output is only part of the symbol; hunger does not equal pizza but rather hunger is connected to a vast data base allowing eating under most circumstances.

    If you have ever been with an Alzheimer's patent, it not uncommon for them to visualize something but not remember the word. Or they might call the door a window. Their internal visualization sees fine, since it does not need a word. But since there is a bias that you need words to think, we assume they can't internally think via visualization. They tend to return to right brain symbols, but not enough people are sensitive enough to read the body language and signs to read their mind; primal old school.
     
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  5. andy1033 Truth Seeker Valued Senior Member

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    Yep words are more than symbols. There sounds are important too. Do you notice how kids pick up on swear words often more easily. Maybe the intent in saying the word, the kid picks up, when someone swears in front of them.
     
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  7. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    When people swear, it's usually a sign of anger or another type of excitement. So the word is uttered with more energy and dynamics. These are the words that kids are more likely to remember.

    Parrots are the same way. The first sound our parrot learned to mimic was the dog barking. The second was, "Buster, be quiet!"
     

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