A Semiotic Moment - Language
Found in the form of a quotation from the Terry Prachett novel "The Colour of Magic":
That is to say: while it was true that they had just appeared in this particular set of dimensions, it was also true that they had been living in them all along.
It is at this point that normal language gives up, and goes and has a drink.
The bolded line (emphasis mine) is I think my favorite line in the entire book. The idea of language throwing up its hands in frustration (if language were to have hands, or a desire to drink - to be personified) at the impossibility of trying to describe the parallel dimensions of the universe (science fiction and otherwise). Such a great image.
And here is another! While looking to see what wikipedia had to offer by way of explaination for semiotics, look who has their own entry (this is mostly for you Saf, I'm guessing most other people who read this blog won't know) - Marcel Danesi. Thats awesome.
That is to say: while it was true that they had just appeared in this particular set of dimensions, it was also true that they had been living in them all along.
It is at this point that normal language gives up, and goes and has a drink.
The bolded line (emphasis mine) is I think my favorite line in the entire book. The idea of language throwing up its hands in frustration (if language were to have hands, or a desire to drink - to be personified) at the impossibility of trying to describe the parallel dimensions of the universe (science fiction and otherwise). Such a great image.
And here is another! While looking to see what wikipedia had to offer by way of explaination for semiotics, look who has their own entry (this is mostly for you Saf, I'm guessing most other people who read this blog won't know) - Marcel Danesi. Thats awesome.
posted by C at
1:25 AM
3 Comments:
Yay! Another Terry Prachett fan! =D
By
Hana, at 1/27/2007 4:53 PM
Actually, no, wouldn't call myself a fan - didn't really care for the book all that much. It had a few good lines, but I can't say I really fell in love with it (well, except for the character of Death. He's awesome). I may try another though ... we'll see.
By
C, at 1/27/2007 11:12 PM
wow! danesi! it's too bad they don't have a funny pic of him included in the post. i wonder who wrote it...
<3 semiotics
~ sappho
By
sappho, at 1/29/2007 2:12 PM
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