Temetwir

3.5.06

Representation or is it Realization


بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
وَإِنَّهُ لَتَنزِيلُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ * نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ * عَلَى قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُنذِرِينَ * بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِيٍّ مُّبِينٍ

الشعراء - 194-192

A largely exchanged notion, to which I would argue traces onto becoming the reality quite often, is one which distinguishes languages as being independent systems, however, tied with and share the primary purpose of acting as a vessel for communication.
This is presumably shown to be the case in an example where John wishes to convey X- message to Jane, but is prevented from being able to do so because of the different systems, known as languages, that they inherited or grew up in a context of. Thus, the inevitable consequence of lack of communication.

On the assumption that John is a speaker of English and Jane is one of Arabic, it is possible to overcome the hurdle by installing a medium, in which communication goes through between the two individuals. Namely, James, who happens to be competent in both systems known as languages.

Here, we come face to face with the question of: does James realize John's thoughts to convey the messages to Jane? Or is it that John's thoughts are represented through the means of which James supports in order to make sure that Jane understands?

For the past 60 years or so, cognitive science in relation to psychology would contend that the structural makeup - the natural sorting - of 'the brain' would realize thoughts according to the instructions of the specific systems designed, formed, and shaped (these are 3 independent terms) within.
Diagram showing this is as follows;



It does seem intuitive to nod in agreement with the above. In other words, it is plausible to presuppose that languages do in fact have a systematic 'object-like' form in one's brain.
One can be convincingly persuaded by this assumption on the basis of showcasing a reaction of a parent to her child, if and or when the child utters a sentence that does not coincide with the system/language. Or, when an adult even has a slip of the tongue and does not abide to the agreed upon realization of a phrase or word.
The mere fact that straying from the agreed upon realization of a system triggers the hearer's alarms on a violation of that system is sufficient evidence for the existence of a 'system to which one must adhere'.

Yet another way of looking at this would be to assume that it is all backward. I.e. t is not a plausible assumption, in my opinion, that independently individualistic systems carry out the thought process through realization when and only if there is accordance between the two.
Rather, it is the representation of the thought, in the sense that such an established system would form-alize it into taking a shape that is agreed upon. Not only is this gravely different, but radically opposing to the above.
Entertain the following proposal.

I am contending that it is the thought, the individualistic event occuring in one's (own) brain that projects onto a canvas, if you may, and thus representing the intention.
Keyword here being, representing, and not exactly THE intention.

If I were an artist and drew a ridiculously convincing image of a home - size, detail, and the sort - no matter how many people are convinced that it is a real home; you and I will, as well as darn should, both know that it is only a representation of the concept what 'a home' is. A representation. Not a realization of the concept.

I prove this to be the case in saying that, if I were to literally abide to the concept of a home, I would have adhered to another system in my brain, namely, architecture and the skill of building, rather than the movement of a hand guiding a brush on a canvas.

This, of course, does not have anything to do with 'actual language and communication' or drawing. I just opted for it to be an example since, quite naturally, we are all speakers of more than one language, as well as all know what 'a drawing is', and thus, I hope, at least, you can relate.

If you can, then good. Disregard all the above in relation to understanding and think of it in terms of religion, politics, and social behaviour.
Should be straightforward.

5 Comments:

  • wow thats deep, how do u come up with this stuff ?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3.5.06  

  • anonymous,
    observation i guess .. ?
    i hope it was straightforward, i think it should be

    By Blogger Temetwir, at 3.5.06  

  • The word that stands out in your post is "makeup" lol..that's as much as I got, which makes me feel even more stupid since apparently its supposed to be straightforward?

    By Blogger Faith, at 3.5.06  

  • I hope I understood this post right...as in to say...if we thought in English...could that have an affect on our political views...or religious views for that matter...in my opinion no...language is just a medium of our own thoughts...i.e. teaching English to terrorist would not change their minds on their beliefs...am I even close to what you were saying?!

    By Blogger MissCosmoKuwait, at 3.5.06  

  • faith
    supposed to

    misscosmokuwait
    nope.. actually, if u look at the ayaat mn el quran, its supposed to say the opposite

    that there is only "THE" language and only 'tongues' of that

    i.e. isnt that a representation?

    the thing with politics, religion, and social behavior in the end was to show that the post is NOT about language nor communication (i.e. just an example)

    this is NOT going to come out as i want it to be, but lets just say i believe that there is only a "language of thought", and no 'languages' whatsoever

    on that, to project, where does religion/politics/social behavior stand?
    if my faith dictates that there is 'the one language' (of thought) and the different tongues for it to help me thru .. then why would i base my thoughts on the free mind?

    what gives me the reassurance, let alone the right, that its ok for me to realize my 'everything' on the assumption of the system in my brain r capable of doing that for me (the medium u refer to)..
    and not that it has to be filtered first and goes thru stages of set standards that we all can agree exist, which is to say, that i only have the limits of representation through and not the realization of my thoughts

    it is, to me at least, a whole different way of looking at the world

    By Blogger Temetwir, at 4.5.06  

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