I really liked Van Der Leeuw’s arguments for the power of words. I particularly found interest in this subject because the topic for my senior sem is a Russian guitar poet. Vysotsky, my guy, said that he put his words to rhythm because of the greater effect they had on the audience. This is exactly what van der leeuw says!
If you think about it, words really are first a sound then an idea. One hears the sound of a word before the idea enters there mind. This is much more easily experienced when one hears a language they do not understand. One can still recognize the intention or feeling of whomever is speaking by their tone and rhythm in their voice. Once the role of the idea though comes into play it becomes something entirely different.
Now in our technologically modern societies, we type 2000 words a minute, ranting and raving ideas and meanings without comprehending the flow of our dialogue. We do not listen to how we are speaking, merely what we are speaking. Our language is directly reflective of oru society- it is informative and efficient; right to the point. There is no allure left over for beauty of the tongue.
So are we killing our language, or are we appreciating language more for what it is? I think this is the predicament we will encounter in our present time. In heeding van der leeuws words, the power of words sounds mythical, and yet we use them frivolously ever minute of everyday. We do not even speak our words anymore but convey them through symbols on screens or papers. Its unbelievable! People thousands of years ago could have never imaged the day we live in today.
All I will say is I am glad there are still poets out there seeking out the beauty in language.
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