tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131844.post287631096567469308..comments2024-02-28T19:37:14.696+01:00Comments on moments of perfect clarity: don't trip on the baggagejulochkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10884096685015570257noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131844.post-85484669737660064012012-02-06T21:20:34.568+01:002012-02-06T21:20:34.568+01:00About belonging
... seems to me, if belonging com...About belonging <br />... seems to me, if belonging comes from a natural process then it’s OK. The moment a person worries about belonging then the process is something else - elitist, too complicated and perhaps not natural.<br /><br />About language. <br />If anything is nuanced, it is language. Language is a door to a society or culture, but it doesn’t guarantee understanding or acceptance. Unfortunately, despite globalization, nationalism remains a dynamic force and by using language as a gatekeeper, societies can restrict or accept those not born into the “belonging” group. <br /><br />About understanding.<br />For several decades I made an effort to understand traditional Japanese woodworking practices ... the hand tools, the joinery and the general methods of work used by Japanese craftsmen. The sub-plot was also, if I understood their tools and tool use, perhaps I could better understand their culture. <br /><br />The quick answer is, I came to greatly appreciate their tools and methods but the learning process was that of peeling layers off an infinite onion. There are subtleties within subtleties and wispy connections to other cultural, historical references. <br /><br />And, no, I don’t think I can fully grasp the panorama or the iconography of their culture. But I do enjoy the process of learning about their exquisite woodworking.willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15590217997145761582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131844.post-87671844058084098882012-02-06T18:39:32.324+01:002012-02-06T18:39:32.324+01:00As a technical communicator it's my job to con...As a technical communicator it's my job to convey information using words. I work with so many engineers that get mad when we "dumb" the English in the manuals down to suit our audience - sometimes of non-English speaking background - and they insist on "quality" writing.<br /><br />Language is so very important to us not only for groups but also for our own emotional well being. If you're forced to use a second language confusion sometimes arises with your own emotions it seems. Words are so much part of our inner silent life even though we perhaps think that's made of pictures like when we dream.<br /><br />I think it's a good think to talk about because I think that a lot of misunderstandings when it comes to immigrants come from language. We assume we understand each other but we don't. The images we have attached to words can vary enormously depending on when, at what time in our lives, and how we learned them.Spilling Inkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02427671883940188334noreply@blogger.com