Quote by C.S. Lewis

The vocabulary of endearment, complaint, and abuse, provides, I think, almost the only specimens of words that are purely emotional, words from which all imaginative or conceptual content has vanished, so that they have no function at all but to express or stimulate emotion, or both. And an examination of them soon convinces us that in them we see language at its least linguistic. We have come to the frontier between language and inarticulate vocal sounds. And at that frontier we find a two-way traffic going on.

The vocabulary of endearment, complaint, and abuse, provides

Summary

This quote suggests that certain words used to express endearment, complaints, and abuse are purely emotional, devoid of any imaginative or conceptual meaning. These words exist solely to express or arouse emotion. Examining them reveals that they lack linguistic depth, almost bordering on inarticulate vocal sounds. This signifies a two-way exchange happening at the boundary between language and non-linguistic sounds.

Topics

Words Emotion Linguistics

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

But she had dreamed of being his for too long. He had quite

But she had dreamed of being his for too long. He had quite ruined her for a marriage of convenience. She wanted everything from him: his mind, his body, his name and, most of all, his heart.

Lately, I've been listening to some jazz albums. I love the

Lately, I've been listening to some jazz albums. I love the new Pat Metheny album. John Coltrane. I still like good metal, though!

I have thought there was some advantage even in death, by wh

I have thought there was some advantage even in death, by which we mingle with the herd of common men.

Henry David Thoreau

A lot of presidential memoirs, they say, are dull and self-s

A lot of presidential memoirs, they say, are dull and self-serving. I hope mine is interesting and self-serving.

William J. Clinton

If somebody never gets enough of you, they will always want

If somebody never gets enough of you, they will always want more

Ashly Lorenzana

Love Desire Relationships Infatuation Attraction Scarcity Enigmatic

Def Leppard is obviously a different band that we are, but t

Def Leppard is obviously a different band that we are, but the music work well tighter. And the audiences seem work well together too. We are opening, but we're having a good time.

I am striving to give back the Divine in myself to the Divin

I am striving to give back the Divine in myself to the Divine in the All.

He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted.

He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted.

Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities.

Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Looking beauty in the world, is the first step of purifying

Looking beauty in the world, is the first step of purifying the mind.

Inspirational Mindfulness

When you live on the road, going home is a place to escape a

When you live on the road, going home is a place to escape and just be with your family to unwind.

I just want my family to be safe. Because I am sometimes pol

I just want my family to be safe. Because I am sometimes polarizing, I fear for their safety.