Mapping Reality Through Language
August 24th, 2005 | Published in Language, Quotes | 1 Comment
In an earlier time, the idea that language is incapable of mapping reality would have been considered nonsense, if not a form of mental illness. In fact, it is a form of mental illness. Nonetheless, in our own time the idea has become an organizing principle of prestigious academic departments. You can get a Ph.D. in this sort of thing.
—Neil Postman, Building a Bridge to the 18th Century (1999), p. 8
August 24th, 2005 at 3:18 pm (#)
Language maps reality. Maps contain finite amounts of information about reality. Regardless of how detailed the map, there will always be some information missing.