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 |   A tentative blog to test the temperature. |
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Ten years ago I was writing several blogs on various subjects - F1 motor racing, Music, Classic Cars, Great Romances and, most crushingly, a personal journal that included my thoughts on America, memories of England and Africa, opinion, humour, writing and anything else that occurred. It all became too much (I was attempting to update the journal every day) and I collapsed, exhausted and thoroughly disillusioned in the end. So this blog is indeed a Toe in the Water, a place to document my thoughts in and on WdC but with a determination not to get sucked into the blog whirlpool ever again. Here's hoping.     |
| Turning Up the Volume Many years ago I was struck by the different approach to volume inherent in different languages. It began to appear to me that the sunnier the clime in which a language developed, the louder it was going to be. A South African once wrote a play consisting of several sketches and it was one particular episode in this that gave my theory its start. In the sketch, two Africans meet on stage and greet each other with much politeness and wishes of good health, then continue on their way in opposite directions. But this does not halt the flow of their conversation. They continue to speak to each other as they disappear offstage and, as the distance between them grows, they merely turn up the volume a little. Their deep voices continue to exchange comments for several minutes across a completely empty stage. To an African audience, this is intensely funny because it illustrates a truth known by all who live in Africa: that Africans will converse with each other across immense distances. I have heard Africans talking quite happily between two hilltops separated by more than a mile. Two observations occurred to me as a result of this. It seemed that this explained why Africans have such deep and sonorous voices that can carry across such distances. And this is only possible in a landscape with few trees to absorb sound. This theory received added impetus when I came to England. Northern Europe was once covered in endless forest. Not only do forests absorb sound, making conversation over distance impossible, but they are also the home of sprites and demons, fairies and monsters. Take a look at the wealth of folk tales from countries in Northern Europe and you will see how the forest is regarded as a sinister place full of unseen threats and shadowy beings. So it is not a place to talk loudly. The people of the forest learned to keep their voices down so as not to disturb the spirits of the forest. If we turn to Southern Europe we find a land much more open and summery. And, surprise, surprise, here the people have a reputation for being talkative and fun-loving, unlike their dour compatriots farther North. Surely this must be landscape-related. It makes sense to me, at least. In America I find a similar principle at work. The New Englander, surrounded by deep and dark forests, is famous for being quiet and reserved, very much like my countrymen in Olde England. But the inhabitants of the open plains of the West and Southwest are known for their brash and confident approach to life. Coincidence? Or are we seeing how the landscape shapes us, molding our speech to suit our surroundings? So there you have one of my linguistic theories. It's meant to be fun and not taken too seriously. My other theories are all to do with English accents and dialects and are extremely boring and long-winded. So enjoy, at least, the fact that I'll not go into them here. Word count: 507 |
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I've always remembered that episode and thought that was a fun idea.
Quite good is quite a good compliment 
As someone who just reviewed an item in your port, I can't help but wonder, Did I pick an item that you'd throw out? 