You obviously know nothing about language. When I say “I’m here”, what I am saying is that I now and forever identify as the grocery store parking lot we decided to meet at. And when I say “I’m running”, I am saying that I have become the very concept of speed.
For normal people yes, for people who lack emotional regulation, “I am sad” can be an identity because you might get stuck in it for years at a time. Decades.
I think the author here is speaking to those people more than just your average joe who could care less about the distinction between state and characteristic because they understand the difference already.
Language and how we specifically say things are huge. It’s why we are big pushing to redefine a host of things now.
We are meant to use “I feel” statements instead of indirectly blaming others with you statements. Using more specific pronouns to avoid little harms that can build up. To say more specific and less derogatory things like unhoused or inclusive things like people of color. It all adds up.
This won’t be the solution or the cure for depression but every little bit helps. If you have depression and are stuck, the making a small differentiation that you FEEL sad instead of BEING sad can be just enough to get you in gear for that day at least. That can be huge.
I read 1984 as a teen, and there’s a huge (dry) section in the middle where Orwell basically does a treatise on language and how it affects behavior, and I remember thinking it was boring and far-fetched.
Nowadays, I understand that it’s the most important aspect of the control in the novel.
The way we speak is so important. Think about when people throw out something like “that movie was bad”, “that restaurant sucks”. That’s making it objective. It ends the conversation. There is no room for improvement or talk at all. In their minds those things are bad and that’s the end of it.
You see this a lot in online communities, especially gaming.
If they instead said “I didn’t like x”, a conversation can be had. Now there is a chance they could like that thing if something we’re adjusted. By changing how we say something we can be open others opinions, to differences we share.
I mostly agree with you, but I do find it interesting how some languages and therefore cultures account for things like this. I saw a Sunn M’Cheaux video about it and it was super interesting!
“I am sad” doesn’t at all mean that sadness is my defining characteristic. It usually means sadness is a temporary state.
Non-linguists trying themselves at linguistics always often come up with pseudo facts like this.
You obviously know nothing about language. When I say “I’m here”, what I am saying is that I now and forever identify as the grocery store parking lot we decided to meet at. And when I say “I’m running”, I am saying that I have become the very concept of speed.
For normal people yes, for people who lack emotional regulation, “I am sad” can be an identity because you might get stuck in it for years at a time. Decades.
I think the author here is speaking to those people more than just your average joe who could care less about the distinction between state and characteristic because they understand the difference already.
It would be more correct to say “I feel sad”, but colloquially “I am sad” is used for the same thing.
Translating, conjugating and undestanding “To Be” is always fraught with peril. :)
Language does shape how we think, so it’s possible that saying it that way has a subconscious effect. I guess.
Without a doubt.
Language and how we specifically say things are huge. It’s why we are big pushing to redefine a host of things now.
We are meant to use “I feel” statements instead of indirectly blaming others with you statements. Using more specific pronouns to avoid little harms that can build up. To say more specific and less derogatory things like unhoused or inclusive things like people of color. It all adds up.
This won’t be the solution or the cure for depression but every little bit helps. If you have depression and are stuck, the making a small differentiation that you FEEL sad instead of BEING sad can be just enough to get you in gear for that day at least. That can be huge.
I read 1984 as a teen, and there’s a huge (dry) section in the middle where Orwell basically does a treatise on language and how it affects behavior, and I remember thinking it was boring and far-fetched.
Nowadays, I understand that it’s the most important aspect of the control in the novel.
Exactly.
The way we speak is so important. Think about when people throw out something like “that movie was bad”, “that restaurant sucks”. That’s making it objective. It ends the conversation. There is no room for improvement or talk at all. In their minds those things are bad and that’s the end of it.
You see this a lot in online communities, especially gaming.
If they instead said “I didn’t like x”, a conversation can be had. Now there is a chance they could like that thing if something we’re adjusted. By changing how we say something we can be open others opinions, to differences we share.
Language is powerful.
I mostly agree with you, but I do find it interesting how some languages and therefore cultures account for things like this. I saw a Sunn M’Cheaux video about it and it was super interesting!