cave_canem wrote:
Perhaps I perceive a degree of condescension in your posts from time to time, and, as such, it seems to me that you are trying to get others to recognize your "linguistic" abilities. This may not be your intent, but that is the problem with written communication. I imagine the tone of your "voice" to be somewhat rude and off-putting when I read your posts. If that was genuinely not your intention, then I will try to adjust your "voice" in my mind in the future.
And if a "linguist" does not have to be good at communicating, what does a "linguist" have to be good at?
My personal belief is that all "experts" in any field must be capable of proper, coherent communication. What good would it be if a mathematician was not able to share his findings with his peers in a way that is meaningful to them? Would Einstein's theory of relativity mattered if he were unable to articulate it?
It is a fact of my existence that when I am happy, people commiseratre with me; when I am miserable, people congratulate me on my good spirits. The people to whom I try to be off-putting see me as encouraging their advances; those I praise are hurt by my criticism, and if I assert the earth is round I am heard to endorse the flat world theory.
Whether this has any bearing on why I feel I fit into an AS environment I leave for you to decide. My brother thinks I am faking.
There are times when I will assert a view and times I will put down oits opposite. Surely. I am speaking [unless the subject is language] as a person of some experience who has thought a lot about the subjects on which I speak - not as a linguist [and who but me cares that linguiste even exist? It does not exactly carry high social standing].
BUT - except when I talk about language or when I call the stupid stupid or the nutters nuts - I am not asserting myself. Expertise? Expertise is irrelevant. I present the data I have picked up along the way. You either accept those data as valid or not. Your call. You then draw your conclusion based on the data you have. If you tell me those conclusions, I will put them on the stack of data. No "authority". No "conviction".
It would be nice if "experts" were good communicators. But the BEST communicators are off communicating, not becoming experts. There ARE linguists who talk well. Some are also good linguists, some are not. Some auto mechanics keep their own vehicle in top condition. Some don't.
I do the best with what I have. But it is like my handwriting - my teacher in 2nd grade sent me home with a note saying "I give up". A slightly crazy man once said that my writing isz really very easy to read - once you get used to it. My language - those who have ears and are used to it seem to think I am talking not so bed. But we do not all have ears for one another.
11 Jun 2011, 8:52 am
