I used to think English wasn’t a very pretty language. I think I began changing my mind last fall when I took my first university-level English class. The more poetry, stories, novels, plays, etc. written in English that I read, I find myself appreciating more and more the beauty of it. However, I think it’s a different kind of beautiful than other languages that we think of. The actual sounds of English may not be, to some ears, as melodious and resonant as Spanish, Greek, or Italian, but to me, its variety of sounds, both discordant and tuneful, makes it that much more beautiful. The variety is beauty.
The more I think and get to know myself, the more I wonder why I ever considered not studying English. I love words. (Obviously. I wouldn’t talk so much if I didn’t.) But really—it used to be that music was the one thing that could always move me to tears, inspire me when nothing else could, or make me want to be better more than anything else. But as I’ve studied literature and the craft of writing this past year, I’ve become more and more aware of my love affair with words. I love to read, write, talk, listen, and participate in all communication that involves words. With the use of words, there is such power and potential to do good and to increase understanding between people. And I guess that’s why I love words so much. They provide so much room and opportunity for expression and insight into other people’s lives, thoughts, and hearts. Not to mention the fact that the possibilities words offer are limitless. Each word has many disparate meanings, and like cooking, when you combine different words together in different ways, each combination creates endless flavors and experiences, no two of which are ever identical. As Benedick says of Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, in the care of a gifted speaker, "his words are a very fantastical banquet."
Even when two people use the same words, it’s still unique because each person has his or her own voice that preserves itself in their sentence and paragraph structure and diction of other things they speak. I am such an English major—here I am rhapsodizing about the power of words…but it’s true—and it’s something that I have come to absolutely love as I’ve studied more. The funny thing is that I even see it in the Book of Mormon—Jacob is one of my favorite prophets as far as writing style goes. I think he is so eloquent and expresses the truths of Christ's grace and unconditional love through His sacrifice for us so beautifully (see Jacob 4). Alma and Mormon are pretty good too.
I think the capacity for communication and understanding between people when words are used well is the best part. When I'm reading a work that moves me, it's because the author has communicated something to me through his or her words that resonates with my soul. I come to a deeper appreciation and understanding for the ideas conveyed via his or her powerful words. That is why we read. That is why we write. To help each other understand experiences, thoughts, ideas, and ways of life. And that's why I study English. I want to understand.
And then when a work of literature does that for me, I feel kind of like like this girl. The words just kind of jump right off the page and enfold me in a great big word-a-licious hug. Yum. :)
(photo courtesy of: http://media.photobucket.com/image/art%20words/jim131314/words-1.jpg)
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lol Lisa, do you realize that I posted a very similar post last week. I love you. And I love that we're basically the same person. And I love English too.