(Back to Calendar)		(Back to Home)
						Read January 2002 Our Nuyorican Thing Read February 2002 Our Nuyorican Thing Back to Our Nuyorican Thing
			MARCH, 2002
		Saludos Y’all Spanglish 101, Introductory background, PART 2. It is an ancient belief, handed down from generation to generation, that we are all descended from one father and one mother. Most religions, ancient histories, verbal traditions, legends and genealogies, state as much, even if they differ in the names, places or circumstances. And recently even geneticists, anthropologists and other scientists seem to agree that the physical (biological) evidence appears to indicate that such is the case, even if they differ as to how long ago this happened. A not so long leap of faith would allow us to conclude, that for some time humans spoke the same language, which over time and distance (from each other) evolved into separate and distinct languages. Though the means, circumtances are of course open to conjecture, my own pet theory is: the Whatsthat language evolution model. Actually we are all familiar with the child, that looks around, points at something, asking the parent, What is that??? If the parent knows: It’s a whatsit!. The child learns, repeats and points to the next object. If the parent doesn’t know, they may make up a word, or ask around to the other members of the group, until a consensus is formed, and a name is given: It’s a whatwecallit. Over time a collection of new terms develop which are not used by other groups (they have their own) that may be relatively close. And depending on the degree of interchange or animosity that the groups may have, the new terms are shared or now differentiate the groups that used to speak the same language and used the same terms. From such a simplistic model we get closely related distinct languages.Until you add factors such as migrations, wars, and all the other facts of life that pit “us” against “them”. Then the distinctions become important. There is a dynamic interplay between those factors that contribute to the preservation of language (as given or learned) and the development of an expanded, changed or adaptive language. From teaching/learning words to exploration/experimentation of sounds, within groups. From imposition/adaptiveness to invention/mixing between groups. Language evolves and mutates, sometimes slowly and organically, sometimes drastically. Group oral traditions, legends, religious beliefs, incantations and such preserve. Interchange/confrontation, commerce, war between groups expand. And the added factor of commiting sounds to symbols, in the form of writing which preserves language while it allows for the incorporation of new terms. The Poetry of Language, the Language of Poetry. And then there is the Poet/storyteller/writer. [In case you were wondering]. Who starts from the language learned, with all of its properties, character & terms. The tools of the trade. Who repeats, expands, invents, adapts. The means of the trade. Who tells, performs, speaks and presents. The end product of the trade. The Poet [read as including storyteller, writer, shaman] stands, but not still, at the crossroads of language; preserving and creating. The Poet uses the language as much as is being used by the language. The element properties of the language: sounds, rythms, syncopation & tonalities elicit the next step (or element that fits the pattern). The element character of the language: phonemes (basic sounds), root-words, case indicators (gender, time, location, user and such) guides the formation of terms that fit the language. The language itself (word/terms, vocabulary) imposes a range of perception that in turn reflects the people that use the language. The structure of the language, the sequence of sounds, the meanings conveyed affect and are affected by what we perceive, extending through music and all the other creative endeavours of the human that must communicate. Here at the Cafe, words, sound & language are the means by which we explore and expand, preserve and create. And if in the process you are entertained and have some fun, well, kids will be kids; poets will be poets. Welcome to the house where language & art play. Welcome Home Sam Diaz In the Service of Poetry, Art, Community Coming up: A Babelian Melting Pot