Last weekend I was driving down to Orange County and there was a little bit of traffic. Not stop-and-go traffic, but more like, “what could possibly be in front of me that’s only allowing me to go 30 in the fast lane?” Then a very cautious motorcyclist with a short jacket and missing belt pulls up next to me in the carpool lane. And for the next couple minutes, it was just hairy lower back/butt in my peripheral. You know when you see something that’s pretty gross, but it won’t go away, and for some reason you keep looking at it? That’s what it’s like to drive exact same speed as a man-crack for 2 minutes.
Communication – the activity of conveying information (Wiki shouout). Also known as the major you pick in college when you don’t know what else to do and you don’t want to work very hard. I bash on it a lot, but I don’t know if there’s anything more important that people should learn. But communication is worthless without a strong grasp of language. I’m going to try to explain it what I mean, but I’m not gonna lie, it’s a little cloudy in my head, so bear with me.
If you think about it, your brain never really turns off until you die. It takes a couple years to really develop and get going, but once it does, it doesn’t stop. From that point on, you have an internal dialogue that’s either delivering or processing language. Your mind collects information and your brain starts translating it into an explanation that you or others can digest. Even when you sleep, your mind is working to create a brief little movie known as a dream. I’m not sure I can speak for everyone because I only know what it’s like inside my head, but I don’t think we have thoughts in our heads without mentally hearing it. Even when you first wake up, your body reacts to being awake, and your brain gathers that complex information and summarizes it into a thought. For example.
Information Captured By Brain:
Eyes Open. Awareness. Feeling. Ceiling. Deep Breath. Orientation. Sound. Annoying Noise.
The Thought That Comes Out:
“Damnit, it’s Monday morning…”
There are very few things that we don’t have to think about to do. God basically said, “Alright, I automated blinking, breathing, and your basic body functions. You’re going to have to figure out the rest. Try not to screw it up…”
Language allows us to, not only understand our thoughts and feelings, but grants us the ability fully express them. The better you can pinpoint those feelings through words that can accurately convey what you’re thinking, the better your communication skills are, and the better you can understand yourself. I’m not saying you should be super pretentious about it and only use big words. I hate it when I read a book and I have to read a sentence over and over because I can’t understand the point the author is trying to make because they use words that have been used like 8 times in real life. “Alright, you asshole, you know bigger words than me. You don’t have to rub it in my face. I’m trying to learn about something, not reference the dictionary every 4th word.”
I think it’s critical that we understand our language, as confusing as it might be. (Think about this: Read is pronounced just like reed and red). And depending on how you read that (either pronunciation is applicable here), that homograph became a homophone with one of those words. Look it up, lazy.
The confusion of words makes us laugh, but the combination of complex thoughts accurately voiced comes together like a beautifully orchestrated symphony that tug at heart strings in an attempt to evoke feeling.
Thanks for understanding.
– The Butt-Reader
