Week Four: Song of language

Another motivation for learning Japanese is to not just understand another cultural framework and set of ideas, but to hear the sort of conversations that occur within that framework. There is a sort of rhythm and musicality to speech, the dance-like ebb and flow of conversation, which is a separate dynamic to whatever utilitarian content that it conveys. It is a processual thing that can establish a resonant dynamic between people. So if I can participate in that with others, I will learn to create new "songs" that I've never sung with family members before. Or at least I will be able to listen to and appreciate the songs of others (regardless of how well I can participate) as formerly indecipherable sounds transform into a relational web that catches a universe of meaning. This more expansive view on language is consistent with the non-utilitarian right hemisphere view.

The left hemisphere's utilitarian perspective optimizes for obsessive compulsive personality types whose narrow hyperfocus ignores relative value and context. This presents a problem when contextually prioritizing tasks and attending to them appropriately. The relative value of one thing compared to another is forgotten, all context is excluded from view, and the result is neglect of formerly recognized priorities. Laozi wrote:

"Though neighbouring communities overlook one another and the crowing of cocks and the barking of dogs can be heard, Yet the people there may grow old and die without ever visiting one another." [TTC 80]

Why? Was there simply no need nor want to do so? I think there was both need and desire, or at least there could have been. But the people were able to skillfully deploy their attention; they could see the context and relations clearly and knew where to best devote their time and attention. And that was not in the affairs of others. The parallel for language learning and studying in general is that this too is a pursuit that can only succeed with a contextual perspective, that is, one that will not get lost exploring other communities of thought and investigation. "Broad ways are extremely even, But people are fond of bypaths." [TTC 53] In the age of the 24 hour global news cycle, multiple co-extensive global risks, online social media, and instant access to supernormal stimuli on nearly any imaginable subject, this sort of capacity for skillful deployment of attention that Laozi described is needed more than ever. 

But how much is it really possible? Most likely we have to design our habits so that we can set aside the things that aren't a priority, but not abandon them altogether. Recall that, in the Iroquois legend, Taronhiawagon must "maintain a small distance from his brother, while at the same time keeping his attention upon him, neither letting him drift too far from his awareness, nor letting him blend with him". This is how we deal with those other things that would distract us from our priorities.