Language…Literature…Theories…Some Interpretations…. Inaugural Speech at the Opening of the Group. By Anil S. Awad Firstly we must know…what comes first…language or literature? It is the language that comes first…then literature. The first Homosapian appeared on the earth nearly 1.5 million years ago…says anthropologists. If it is true…then what was their language of expression and communication? Obviously…it was Body Language with a little bunch of screaming sounds. With the invention of agriculture, nearly 10000 years ago…human beings started to colonize and settle at one place…particularly to the river-side. They found some code or say, ethics to regulate the newly born society and started to transmit orally some facts related to the beauty of nature …which was something new to the generation…after the chaotic Ice Age. It was the beginning of literature…or say, Oral Literature. Now see in the context of India. Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Buddhism and Jain Literature etc. all literature were transmitted orally from generation to generation. It is surprise to know that the mother languages like Latin and Sanskrit didn’t have their own script till 1000 B.C. Now we have thousands of languages with different scripts all over in the world and terminology of language keep changing constantly. Now we have C++, Java, Satellite and even Mobile Language. Now the handwritten manuscripts are replaced by E-books. It is a great move of human beings from Body Language to Mobile Language. Secondly, the question comes…which comes first…theory or practice or the application. Obviously…it is practice. Gravitational Force is here since creation of the earth and the apples are falling on the earth regularly…but it is Newton who theorized it in 1687 and now we are applying his laws to launch satellites to the Moon and the Mars. Regarding literature….Aristotle first saw the contemporary tragedies, comedies, tragic-comedies and then defined them. For language…it was more difficult to theorize than literature due to its variety and dynamic nature…but still it is framed with definitions. But we must not forget that we practiced it from generation to generation and then come to some definite conclusions but not without exceptions. Theories are nothing but the generalized statement about the events. Then the third question…how to learn the theories related to language and literature. Take the example of a child…how he learns the language?….by learning language. Then what about the literature….how to learn it…simple…also play with literature like a kid and you will learn it quickly. A kid is always eager to break his toy than to keep it in showcase…break the barriers of the literature that prevents you from learning it. When it comes to Literary Theories…I always observe a small glimpse of seriousness on the face of the learners and when it comes to critics/ideologists/scholars…their faces become like a Chimpanzee whose banana you have just stolen. …Why so serious? It is man who made language and literature first…then came the theories…and you have freedom to apply it anywhere…everywhere. Don’t bother that someone is going to sue you in the court of interpreting or misinterpreting his/her theories. Columbus started his journey to India in a new way…so he reached America. As above mentioned…theories are nothing but the generalized statement about observable facts….facts which are available everywhere around us. Start to apply it….now. How? Take example of the TV serials you watch daily…when the characters start to talk about his/her poverty…Marxist scholars will relate it to the class-struggle. But observe minutely…can their dresses, their house, furniture, mobile phones, ornaments etc. demonstrate anything about poverty? Then what is it? Gramisci’s Hegemony or Foucault’s concept of Knowledge and Power…? Many more interpretations… Think over it and the great ideologists will be at your doorstep to teach their theories. Try to simplify your attitude…don’t get trapped in your own image of being a serious learner or scholar…it harms learning. Just simplify it. Remember…our ancestors…although not too much learned…possessed the greater common sense than us. Why? They learnt through experience. They were not manipulated by the way of learning so enjoyed the freedom of thoughts in larger ways. They tried to simplify and we are making it more complicated. Language and Literature is a thing to be experienced and not expressed. Just do it and be a good learner. Thank you very much. ©ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TO MR. ANIL AWAD (Inconveniences related to syntax, grammar and punctuation is regretted.) For recent update in literature…follow the page: https://facebook/pages/Learn-Literature-With-Fun/455622071237296?notif_t=page_new_likes Pl follow the group: Contemporary Theories in Language and Literature for detailed discussion https://facebook/groups/625992664135622/626135604121328/?notif_t=like
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 15:38:11 +0000
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