Friday, January 11, 2008

...the means to Meaning!!!

I have a crazy infatuation with words and can be very easily fooled by people who can use them well, my love for beautifully strung together words has been expressed quite extensively in earlier posts.

But sometimes the most wondrous moments in life transpire without any words at all and the effect of that wordless communication is so much more powerful. Sometimes so many things that are so difficult to express, because what you feel is so much bigger than words, can be said through a single glance. When emotions are perfectly in sync, words pale - and that's when you realize the truth behind the cliche, 'a picture is worth a thousand words' .

That moment and your experience of it makes you realize that words are nothing without meaning and that meaning is not dependent on words at all. They are there to convey the essence and if that's not there the most immaculately put together words will have no effect.

'Words offer the means to meaning...'
and without that meaning words are merely 'empty vessels'!

53 comments:

Amel said...

This is a VERY interesting post and it's also ummm...how to put it...enthusiastic one? :-)))

You're right, though, sometimes words can't truly capture some moments in life. When I fell in love with my hubby over and over again ('coz we had a long-distance relationship), I was never satisfied in writing love letters to him. It just seemed that no word was enough to convey what I wanted to say.

I love this sentence best in this post:

"When emotions are perfectly in sync, WORDS PALE".

BRILLIANT one-liner! ;-D

Mark said...

Sometime silence is the loudest form of communication of all. Very good post.

Dawn Drover said...

You just reminded me of an old Bee Gees song...
"It's only words, and words are all I have, to take your heart away" :))

paisley said...

your closing line here is very powerful... sometimes the things i write about are so impacted with my own emotion i wonder whether they will even make sense to anyone else... this was a really well thought out post random.....

blue said...

I feel what you say. In fact, if I had my preference, my words would be restricted to the silence of the page. I prefer to communicate with people, particularly those I love, without words...and even those I don't "love", but have a great amount of feeling toward. The sad thing is that today's society (maybe even yesterday's) does not allow for physical communication (hands touching hands, eyes touching eyes). Body language is a tool for "reading people" in order to gain the upper hand in some unspoken competition, it seems. The language of the body is not seen as a beautiful and more articulate communicator than mere words. I like the way you have brought this to light.

Tawnya Shields said...

Your posts always get me thinking.


Hey, I stopped by to say hello, that I missed you and that I am glad you are back. :o)


(((((((hugs)))))

Rambler said...

I totally agree that words without meaning are like empty vessels. I guess emotions are really important along with meaning...

John A Hill said...

There are many times that words cannot describe the moment, the view, the emotion. At those times, words seem to take away from the moment. Sometimes it's best to remain silent.

Mariuca said...

Hi Amber, thanks for visiting me yesterday. Well, you have contributed to some very beautifully written words right here on ur blog yourself! :)

I hope u're having a good weekend and here's a very simple meme for u to have some fun with! :):):)

http://mariuca.blogspot.com/2008/01/mariuca-loves-mariuca-hates.html

Joe Jubinville said...

Somewhere in early childhood we cross over from a totally sensual world to a verbal and linear one. Paradise lost. We can only return in moments and glimpses.

"Oh my Lolita, I have only words to play with..."

-Humbert Humbert from his prison cell.

Anonymous said...

Profound!

Jay said...

'Words offer the means to meaning...
and without that meaning words are merely 'empty vessels'

wow thats good

i'm going to have to think deep on that because i'm a little confused on it!

Jean-Luc Picard said...

A good post that encouragesone to think.

Unknown said...

This is true. Words must be picked properly and with purpose. Stringing together big and beautiful words without conviction behind them is static. The moments when words are not needed and can be achieved by a glance or touch are even better.

Amel said...

Hi, Amber!!!

Here's an award for you:

Roaring Lion Award

Anonymous said...

I have always had a love affair with words. I, like you, am so easily enraptured by those who have such an effortless command of them.

That said, I'd take a beautifully touching moment that leaves me speechless in its wake over a beautifully constructed sentence any day. ;) xoxo

Boricua in Texas said...

There are moments that are so magical that words cannot convey their meaning.

However, I am convinced that the more developed our language skills and vocabulary, the better we can get the meaning of things.

derick said...

hi amber,
great post--
it is what lies behind the words and the essence of the context in which they are said or written.
in the end it comes down to the individual perception of what one is able to see or hear. thanks
derick

Stealth said...

Deeeep!

Jacques Pierre said...

Hi Amber. I luv evry single word written here.

Words Work Wonders ... :)

Saph said...

The problem with words is that the same word can mean diferrent things to diferrent people.

So there has to be an understanding and emotional connection between two people so they understand what the other is really saying for the power of words to work.

Always a challenge for an author who has to do that through the words themselves.
That is why in writing it is important to "show" and not "tell": it gives a better chance of emotional connection.

Bilbo said...

Speaking with all the weighty authority I have as (probably) your only reader with a degree in Linguistics, I think this is a great post! I think I'm in semantic love with you!

Anonymous said...

Girl..you did it AGAIN. You always knock my socks off and make me THINK....

FANTASTIC post.

Joseph said...

Usually, when I'm using words, towards the direction of a person that could be construed as female...

I pale.

I also sweat. Profusely.

Barkfoot said...

I don't have the same eloquence with words that you do, so instead I choose to express my comment in the form of dance, here goes......

Michelle said...

ooooh, I like this one! Sometimes words are wonderful tools, other times I feel like i'm trying to dance wearing iron clogs when I'm trying to express what I really feel or think.

While I'm here... HAPPY NEW YEAR, Amber. :-)

sage said...

no words can't truly catch the essence of an experience, but they can trigger emotions from the lives of those who hear the words to bring up similar expereinces--thoughtful post, I haven't been here in a while.

Loz said...

Hi Amber - I've just given you an award so please drop by and pick it up

Anonymous said...

Amber, you're so right...
...
...
...
...as always :)

RubyShooZ said...

That's why I feel the world of words on the internet lacks so much. We can't look into anothers' eyes, we cannot see their body language, we cannot get those real live hugs and we cannot wipe anothers' tears away with the care in our hands, in our eyes and in our hearts - you just can't see it, feel it.

Thanks for the great post my friend. You've been missed.

Peace, love and understanding.

Anonymous said...

miss you....

Michelle said...

For you Random, for just being you. :-)

http://crows-feet.blogspot.com/2008/01/biggest-heart-award.html

Mariuca said...

Hola Amber, I have some awards for u! Happy weekend :)
http://mariuca.blogspot.com/2008/02/beautiful-awards-for-mariucas-friends.html

Anonymous said...

Wow, so deep... I'll have to re read it once I get home from work, but even now I can say this: good stuff!

Anonymous said...

I agree. Words often wasted by those who have empty vessels on their shoulders as well.

John A Hill said...

Hi Amanda,
I miss your posts. I hope that all is well.
John

Anonymous said...

Hey, what happened? Long vacation or stopped blogging altogether? Hope you are doing ok.

Ash Srivastava said...

Hello Random Magus !!

I stopped by to say hello. Your posts always fuel my imagination and creativity. Words strung together often mesmerize us if they have a message of hope and appeal to our emotions. You seem to have captured the essence of the AHA moment in this post!

Ash

Anonymous said...

Silence is a very effective method of communication. Inner harmony is something to be experienced, not acquired.

Lirun said...

yeah well that infatuation isnt very apparent right now :)

Mariuca said...

Hola Amber, just stopping by to see how're u doing? ;)

Bilbo said...

No posts for a long time...are you okay? Have you given up blogging? Hope all is well and that we'll hear from you again soon.

Anonymous said...

Words are a very small part of our communication you know. It's important to take care of the smaller thing in life.

Anonymous said...

good post

BillyWarhol said...

I like Pictures + Photographs*

;)) Peace*

Anonymous said...

Good call. I love using wonderful words to describe my feelings to people. Thanks for the post.

Dyilyan Oh said...

thanx heaven i found your blog again, i was browsing through my old posts reading comments from people and i saw you. yehay! :) glad to be hear again :)

Anonymous said...

Great post. You do have agreat ability to use words that flow well together. I like to expand my vocabulary as much as I can. Thanks for sharing.

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Please keep up the good work. Appreicate you efforts for sharing.

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hind it Bulk SMS said...

A good post that encouragesone to think. There are many times that words cannot describe the moment, the view, the emotion. At those times, words seem to take away from the moment. Sometimes it's best to remain silent