Where do words come from? They come from the dead. We inherit them. Borrow them. Use them for a time to bring the dead to life.
In her book "A Tale for the Time Being," author Ruth Ozeki explores the origins of language, suggesting that words have a historical and almost spiritual lineage. She posits that we do not create words in isolation; instead, we inherit them from those who came before us. Each word embodies a piece of the past, linking us to previous generations and their experiences.
This connection to the deceased implies that language serves as a vessel for keeping memories alive. By using words that have been passed down, we evoke the thoughts and feelings of those who existed before us, allowing their voices to resonate in the present. Thus, language becomes a bridge between the living and the dead, offering a way to honor and remember them through our ongoing conversations.
