Bonsoir,
I recognize that this is all rather cliche, but it came to me during class today. We've heard time and time again that "a picture is worth a thousand words"...but doesn't it also work the other way around? If you set a word in front of us, couldn't it be worth a thousand pictures? We'd all perceive the word differently and tie it in with our different intensional and extensional interpretations and experiences. Take for example the word "serene". Some might imagine a beach, some might imagine a winter wonderland, some might even imagine a picture of an airplane soaring through the sky. Would someone need to have studied Hayakawa and/or semantics in general in order to think this way? I think we should coin the new term for ourselves. I hope it doesn't already exist!
A bientot,
(Sam Maliha)
Comrade Maliha
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7 comments:
While I agree that the concept is reversible with an abstract word like serene, I think that there are many exceptions to this rule. We say that a picture is worth a thousand words and it holds true for all pictures, regardless of whether it focuses on a specific subject or not. A picture can be general or specific and still have a thousand different interpretations. On the other hand, as you use more specific words, the rule starts to fall apart.
For example, if I say 'black cat,' there will not be as many pictures as with the words 'serene.' As we move down the ladder of abstraction, I think that these pictures will decrease.
I, too, agree that the concept is indeed reversible. As the example word "serene" may beckon different images from people because of our varying perceptions and experiences, other words could do so as well. I honestly do not think that one has to have studied Hayakawa or semantics in order to understand this. If we always hear people say that "a picture is worth a thousand words," then what would keep us from saying and hearing the reverse? If people understand that a picture, which often forms its own story (which is pleasant except during HSPAs), can mean much more than a sentence or two, then surely they can also comprehend that a descriptive word could form its own images in one's mind and be worth a thousand pictures.
I agree with Mary that certain exceptions could exist with this reverse statement. However, I question the use of the example "black cat" because this is a PHRASE and not a single word. Aren't we simply referring to general words when we discuss the reverse statement, not specific phrases? In addition, even if we are considering phrases, I think "black cat" is not the greatest example of a "word" that is an exception; people could still associate different images with it. For example, couldn't one person read "black cat" and imagine his/her own cat becoming ill and the resultant trip to the veterinarian and another person imagine a small black cat crossing the road in front of his/her car and causing a feeling of bad luck?
(Comrade Lee)
While I agree with your statement that the phrase is reversible, perhaps the original has more depth? Comrade Quien (are we still doing this??) brought up the idea of the inverse relationship between the specificity of the word and the number of pictures one could relate to it. In addition, the number of pictures would be limited relative to the number of words simply because the original has a physical representation. Most people are more visual and need a more concrete basis on which to form their ideas be they words or pictures. So while this new viewpoint on the matter is very intriguing, is it a diluted version of the original?
I'd just like to point out that Hayakawa and semantics aren't exactly the be-all-end-all of necessary knowledge in our world. Yes, reading Hayakawa allows us a certain amount of extra insight in a technical sense. It is, however, not impossible to come to such conclusions without this sort of training/background. After all, part of rhetorical analysis is, in essence, common sense. To me, knowledge of Hayakawa and semantics allows for easier communication of my analysis since it gives more definite shape and names to go with my thoughts. After all, it's not as if you didn't realize what the ladder of abstraction was before you read Hayakawa. Reading LITAA simply gave the concept a more solid form and attached a recognizable name to it for ease of memorization and communication.
I would tend to agree with the idea that "a word is worth a thousand pictures." Even though the number of possible pictures decreases as we move down the abstraction ladder, it's kind of like saying we're going from infinity possible images to infinity minus ten images, or something like that. I hope you get the point I'm trying to get across. There are many more than a thousand images that could be conjured up to match up with one word, as there are many more than a thousand words that can be conjured up to describe or associate with one picture.
Emily T.
I agree with all of your points. But Tiffany brought up an interesting point about some things in life remaining unaffected by semantics/Hayakawa. What would examples of this be? It seems like I think in terms of semantics so often now that I keep forgetting exceptions to the rules.
Does anyone know any examples? Also, it is pretty interesting to note that "semantics" DOES indeed get in the way of analysis. Is there any way to cure this?
(Sam Maliha)
Well, the saying certainly does go both ways. I actually prefer the vice-versa formulation, as words in many ways are infinitely more powerful than pictures.
I feel that words are much better at communicating abstract feelings and ideals than pictures are. While the word "patriotism" may bring forth a whole host of feelings and memories, an image confines you at least temporarily to one extensional representation nof the word.
Even with Mary's phrase, the "black cat", several feelings and memories pop into my mind. Of course, we all know the superstition, but Halloween, and actual black cats I have known also appear in my mind. Images can do this as well, but words are much more efficient in doing so.
-Eric Wei
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