Cerebral Language

One of you commented about getting a dictionary to follow along. Well, I will endeavor to use the precisely right verbiage in each entry. That's who I am. When I am writing I have the luxury of structuring my comments and using the right word because I can research it while I write.

Now if that seems artificial to you, I offer my apologies. But writing should always entail one's greatest efforts to be perfect. We don't typically have that opportunity when speaking. Unless you have spent a life time studying the language.

I had an English professor in college that was perfectly precise in her conversation and lecturing. Her name was Kathleen Rousseau. She dressed like a 20th century carryover from the Victorian age of the century before. Always in a long dress normally with a shawl or jacket and her ever present umbrella. I developed a special relationship with Professor Rousseau in spite of some 45 or 50 years difference in our age, and worlds of difference in education and knowledge of the language. She always encouraged us to be precise in order to be understood. I took three classes with her, one of which was Etymology, the study of words. I believe it was the class I loved the most in college.

But, if it gets too much for you, I'll try to use more explanations than precision in the way I word things. Let me know.

I sat in the break room at work today trying to eat my lunch and was quite annoyed at three people who were having a riotous time talking about their small children, ages between almost 3 and about 7, who used vulgar language in their every day conversation. They thought it was extremely funny, and I was horrified. I can not imagine teaching or encouraging a child to use four letter words. I see no room for them in any conversation or writing. Bad scene.

My reading lately has consisted of three books. One book I interrupted the other two so I could read it straight though. The title is "The Last Oracle" and is written by James Rollins, author of "Map of Bones." It is a book along the same lines as the "Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown, another book I very much enjoyed. One of the books I have also finished, "Are Men Born Sinners, The Myth of Original Sin" by Alfred T. Overstreet. An compelling read and seems to be on solid ground. The third book which I am having to read carefully because it references events and people I am unfamiliar with is "Whose Bible Is It?" by Jaroslav Pelikan.

Pelikan died in 2006 before I discovered him, but is considered by many to be one of the world's leading scholars in Christian history. He wrote about Christian history extensively, publishing some 30 books. He was fluent in at least 12 different languages, mostly in the languages of the ancient world.

The imperfect quote I made in my earlier post about the oral history of the Jews being dynamic was from this book.

I wish I was able to spend my waking moments reading rather than spending so much time making a living. But alas, such is the results of decision making I have done.

Thanks for coming along. I've heard from two of you. Glad to have you along.