(2)诗人与语言
杨道还 1/30/2023
诗人、哲学家、和语言学家在林里漫步。
诗人突发感概：“啊，听，多么曼妙，‘热爱自然的人与世间万象，有着心神的交流，对他，她可说各种各样的语言。’”
哲学家和语言学家问：“你讲的这些话，莫名其妙。我们很想知道，对你来说，语言是什么呢？”
诗人说：“言是人自陈，语是与人交谈。神的话语，启示了巫的卜筮，将神所讲翻译成了人的语言；大自然的话语，唤起了先民心中的歌谣，将大自然所讲翻译成了人的语言。‘如果你听到小鱼儿的话，它听起来就像鲸鱼。’热爱自由的人，有着自己的言，并不在乎听众；又有热心于不自由的人，发明了语，来转告听众。诗是诗人的言，不是诗人的语：如果你听到诗，却没有听到谁在与他窃窃私语，你只听到了句子，而非语言；如果你听到诗，却没有听到谁在与他此唱彼和，你错过到的话语，比听到的多。诗言志，歌永言，说者通，论者圜，义者议，讼者辩，有言才能成语，能语未必能言。”
哲学家说：“胡说八道，这些都是你一个人臆想杜撰的，就像诗一样，自言自语，不能传达任何东西，属于废话。语言的意义，在于传达。哲学家总是急于传达，用真正的语言进行的传达。普通人说话，讲的是伪语言：不知道自己在说什么的人比知道的多；一席话辞不达意的部分比达意的多；一本书废话的部分比有用的多。这是因为人们不理解，语言的本质是客观世界的反映，而每个人先天就有同样的理解客观世界的能力，因而真正的语言是没有歧义的；语义的混乱、歧义、和余赘，来自于人错误地使用语言。只有在每个人都掌握了哲学的和科学的理性思维，每个概念以至于字词都有严格的规定，每句话都遵循严格的语法和逻辑，对客观世界有着清晰的认识，人们才能交流，才能实现真正的语言。”
语言学家说：“你们两个，都在胡说八道。诗人所讲，谁也听不懂，没有听众的话，是废话。但哲学家所讲却是错误的，你所谓的客观，没有将语言自身作为一个客观对象来看，因而不知道语言有着自身的产生原因和发展规律。语言的本身就是自然的，它是因为人民协作劳动和交换劳动需要交流，而自然而然地创造的，人民的社会存在决定了语言的面貌。语言作为自然的东西是没有真伪之辨的。一个语言的好坏，只在于它便不便于人们使用。语言的发展不是由哲学家决定的，而是人民决定的，是鲜活的。概念的严格定义，是不可能实现的，你讲的其余也就不能成立。哲学家讲，‘人不能一次踏入同一条河流’。这是因为河流是瞬息万变的。你连一条河流都不能严格定义，怎么讲话？春夏秋冬，永无重复，如何讲起？等你们定义下来之后再讲吗？劳动人民没有严格的定义，糊里糊涂也过得很好。比如这把叉子，没有固定的定义，叉草时叫草叉，叉牛粪叫粪叉，用来揍哲学家时叫打傻叉，……，就是这么鲜活和幽默。 ”
哲学家对语言学家说：“你就是个叉粪的泥腿子，你根本不知道什么是智力上的享受（intellectual entertainments）。满足了低级需求的人，会产生满足高级需求的欲望，你却陷在像猪一样的低级需求里。还人民，人民都瞧不起你。”
语言学家对哲学家说：“我的需求不管高级还是低级，总还是人性的，你的需求却是机械的，机器人的，带着刺鼻的机油味儿的。你的正确是空洞的，像“中文房间”一样缺乏内容。你就是个人工智能，还是早期版。”
哲学家和语言学家吵成一团。
诗人说：“你们且慢争吵。你们在争吵什么呢？你们虽然在用‘语’交谈，却如同我独白的‘言’——你们讲的是同一种语言，却又是两种不同的语言，不能传达，也没有交流发生。正如你们所讲，没有听众的话，是废话，那么你们和我一样，都在说些废话。请倾听我的诗句吧：‘啊，人，有人用语言编成美丽的花环将妳装饰，有人将语言变为精致的枷锁将妳禁闭，有人把语言变为无聊的噪声将妳唤起，妳却用粪叉将他们轻轻地叉起，扔进易逝的记忆。’”
注：
William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878)，"Thanatopsis" （《死亡冥想》，1811年）
“To him who in the love of Nature holds
Communion with her visible forms, she speaks
A various language”
Oliver Goldsmith(1728– 1774), “If you were to make little fishes talk, they would talk like whales.”
《说文》“直言曰言，论难曰语。”段玉裁注，“言、言己事。为人说为语。”
summarize and list of themes: "William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878)，"Thanatopsis" （《死亡冥想》，1811年） “To him who in the love of Nature holds Communion with her visible forms, she speaks A various language” Oliver Goldsmith(1728– 1774), “If you were to make little fishes talk, they would talk like whales.”
The poem “Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant explores the theme of finding solace and comfort in nature. It suggests that nature can provide a sense of peace and understanding about the inevitability of death. The poem also emphasizes the idea that all humans are connected and will eventually return to the earth. Additionally, it highlights the power and beauty of nature, and the importance of appreciating and respecting it.
Gee. nothing new from your summary. tell me new things in his poems. Would you?I apologize for the repetition. In addition to the themes mentioned earlier, William Cullen Bryant’s poetry often reflects themes of the sublime and the power of nature. He frequently explores the concept of mortality and the fleeting nature of human existence. Bryant also delves into the theme of the individual’s relationship with society and the importance of preserving the natural world for future generations. Furthermore, his work often explores the idea of finding meaning and purpose in life through an appreciation of nature and the interconnectedness of all living beings.
哲学家讲，‘人不能一次踏入同一条河流’。这是因为河流是瞬息万变的。你连一条河流都不能严格定义，怎么讲话？春夏秋冬，永无重复，如何讲起？等你们定义下来之后再讲吗？劳动人民没有严格的定义，糊里糊涂也过得很好。比如这把叉子，没有固定的定义，叉草时叫草叉，叉牛粪叫粪叉，用来揍哲学家时叫打傻叉，……，就是这么鲜活和幽默。 ” elaborate on its meaning why?The quote you mentioned, “One cannot step twice into the same river,” is attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. It reflects the idea that everything in the world is constantly changing and evolving. The river serves as a metaphor for the flow of life and the impermanence of existence.
The meaning behind this quote is that the world is in a perpetual state of flux, and nothing remains the same. The river is always moving, with new water constantly flowing in and out, making it impossible to step into the exact same river twice. Similarly, life is constantly changing, and every moment is unique and fleeting.
This concept challenges the notion of strict definitions and fixed identities. It suggests that the nature of things is fluid, and attempting to rigidly define them is futile. It encourages a more dynamic and adaptable perspective, recognizing that everything is subject to change and transformation.
In the context of William Cullen Bryant’s poetry, this idea of constant change and the impermanence of life ties into his exploration of mortality and the transient nature of human existence. It underscores the significance of embracing and appreciating the present moment and finding meaning in the ever-changing world around us.
