Language is a Verb

wI have always been fascinated by language. There is a sort of mysticism about the way that people communicate with one another. Nuance. Artistry. The storyteller in me is all too familiar with the power of words. The words that you say. The words that you hold back. The intricacies of rhythm, cadence, melody are so carefully woven into the meaning and intentions of messages and the effortless ability one has to craft and send them is remarkable and so easily forgotten.

The theatre person in me loves the fact that language is almost pure action. Everything we speak is with intent and purpose. Language has power to harm and to heal, to enlighten and to reduce, to create and to destroy and it is everywhere.

A good friend of mine, an English Professor, one told me, reassuringly, that it is important to learn the basics and then later, manipulate them to enhance your message. I appreciated that, because I’ve never been much of one to follow arbitrary rules of that sort. She was sort of saying “get in there and mess about a bit and see what you come up with.” I agreed completely.

I think that was why I was so pleased to see this video from Stephen Fry. I have always had a fondness for Stephen Fry. He is extremely clever. This video so carefully explains why it is important to remember just how magical language can be. He explains it so much better than I could and the typography is amazing.

Tags: english, higher ed, kinetic typography, language, stephen fry, Teaching, words