Whatever the language, literature is necessarily about words. In this paean to language, Pablo Neruda, the Nobel Prize winning Chilean poet whom Gabriel Garcia Marquez called "the greatest poet of the 20th century in any language," celebrates the word- its beginning, its evolution and its purpose.
Read Neruda's poem in English (and in Spanish, if you can). Consider the implications this poem might have for the study of world literature, works in translation? How will our work in this class be different than that of other English courses? How will it be the same?
**For those of you who are able to read both the English and the Spanish, let the rest of us know what we miss by only being able to read the translation. Are there places where you feel that Mitchell (the translator) is "interpreting" rather than simply translating? If so, could it be helped? Has he left out or added anything in the process?
The Word by Pablo Neruda
Ms. Douglass Fall 2010
Vocabulary Practice
28 comments:
In the beginning of The Word, I feel like Neruda is talking about the forming of words. He uses very powerful visual imagery like "blood", "dark", and "pulsing" to express his feelings on the formation of a word. I like this part of the poem, because what he is trying to say can resonate with me in images rather then words.
Neruda talks about the evolution of words in the context of how they form - graduating from sounds to expressions that have meaning. Later, he goes on to discuss how he is delighted to explore words and "move through [them]".
Neruda uses the poem The Word to express the importance of language and the development of the very first words. He creates powerful images in which he explains the effect of the word on civilization. Not only does the mouth communicate words but also other parts of the body such as the eyes and the hands. Overall, language has become more sophisticated over time and in effect connects all kinds of people.
In The Word, Neruda shows how words have changed in value over time. In the beginning, words were basic and a language was just being formed. Over time, words have been given new value and are used to express emotions, and can truly help in understanding others. Neruda uses strong imagery that gives a good mental picture to the reader and helps you to understand the poem more clearly.
I got the impression that there was a deeper meaning I can't see in the poetry. From what I can tell the poetry tells of the creation and evolution of language and words. And not just language as a whole, but how a word describing one thing changes. For example there have been and will be different words for a dog, though they may all mean the same thing. I don't if there is another meaning to Neruda's poetry but it seemed to me that there was something I was missing. Any thoughts?
Neruda uses the poem to explain how language evolved. He tells how it passes through cultures and is passed on from generation to generation. He tells how communication can be spread through the eyes, the mouth, and other parts of the body. Neruda uses strong imagery to help the reader understand his points.
In his poem, "The Word", Neruda expresses the belief that language is what unifies mankind, and what truly brings us alive to one another. To exist in silence "is to die among beings", according to Neruda. This ability to come alive with words is inherent, and is common to all. As we grow, so to does our ability to give our words significance. This significance is what allows us to be taken seriously as speakers and human beings. Neruda believes words "give life to life", bringing us not only a means of communication, but a meaningful existence as well.
In Neruda's poem, The Word, he ponders about the formation of words. He talks about how words started out as merely a sound and have gained meaning and evolved into the basis of a conversation. Without words, humans would struggle in daily communication. He describes words as taking "flight with the lips and mouth." His uses of imagery, metaphors, and other forms of figurative language help give the reader a mental image of The Word.
"The Word" is a poem that shows the evolution of human speech. It shows that language started very simple and became very complex. Language enabled humans to advance as the most dominate species on the planet. He shows that the importance of words is the meaning behind them, not the spoken word itself.
At first I feel like Neruda explains how the "word" is formed literally, by using humans' mouths. As the poem continues, he explains how the "word" (language) takes on a greater meaning as the language becomes more and more complex. The language becomes heavier, filled with more importance as time goes on. Neruda also explores how thoughts and feelings that are usually conveyed through spoken language can be conveyed through one's eyes, expressions, and movements.
In The Word, Neruda tries to express to the reader his feelings about the "word" and how the meaning of words impact us. He explains the importance of words and how they can be communicated in many different ways, not only through speaking. I feel like the imagery that he uses provides the reader a better understanding of the poem and the impact of our language.
In Neruda's "The Word,"he is explaining to us the origin of words and where and how they began. He tells us how "perhaps [a word] was just a whisper, a raindrop," and from there it developed and gained meaning all of its own. Later, he goes on to tell us how that one word developed into a language that connects us all, and defines us and everything.
In Pablo Neruda's poem "The Word" he describes how language becomes more and more complex the more it is studied. At first he shows they are nothing more than sounds. However, they slowly become more complex gaining meaning and becoming linked with expressions and emotions.
I think that Neruda is trying to convey the passion and symbolism of every word man is able to speak. He begins the poem by stressing the importance and life changing experience of forming words and language. Neruda describes "dead fathers" and "poor tribes" who were able to "sow their word once again." I think he is saying that language is the bridge that unites the people after all their hardships, the gift that is able to connect them to the spiritual side of human existence. Neruda describes “the word” as a “maternal source” and as “communications of the blood”.
In "The Word," Pablo Neruda discusses the formation and evolution of language over time. From the creation of a word and throughout time, a word continues to gain multiple meanings and carry greater significance. Neruda expresses the idea that language is essential to life and that "not to speak is to die among beings." Neruda uses nature to strengthen his ideas and further express the importance of words to the reader. He also compares words to blood, in that both are essential to life and vital components of human existence.
Through The Word, Neruda praises mankind for bringing life and beauty to language and communication. What he first refers to as "just a whisper," soon becomes full of "births and sounds," leading Neruda to commend man for bringing all language alive. Through imagery and metaphor, Neruda begins to express how language extends beyond merely the spoken into all aspects of life. Through his own words (although it is translated), Neruda shows how powerful language can be.
In The Word, Neruda describes the origin of the word, coming initially from the mouth, but also expressed by other parts of the body, such as the eyes. He tells how the word took on more and more meaning and is now more than necessary to life among beings, so much so that he uses blood as an image of the word and its importance. He ends by praising the word for its contribution to life.
In Neruda's The Word, he talks about the birth and the beginning of words, as well as their evolution into forming a language. Right from the start Neruda uses very stronge words to express just how important the birth if words was and how powerful they are. He describes how words came from all parts of the world and people began to use them and sow them together in a language. Now, words connect our entire world; however, he explains that at the beginning people where afraid of their coming. Over time, words and their meanings were being constantly altered and they became more than just sounds coming from the mouth.....they allowed people to express themselves. At end of poem, it describes how words give context to everything and without them everything would appear dull. Neruda says words "give life to life", giving us not only a means of communication, but also a meaningful to express ourselves.
In The Word, Pablo Neruda is expressing the significance of words, how they first began and then quickly evolved into language and gained a greater meaning. Thus, he shows the importance of having words through his belief that 'not to speak is to die among beings'. He expresses this idea through his use of imagery and metaphors, which combine to paint a clear picture for the reader.
In "The Word", Pablo Neruda describes how language has evolved through history. He talks of how the word began as "just a whisper" and later gained more meaning and value. Throughout the poem Neruda describes the power words have. He talks about how the words unified civilizations and "united new land and water". Neruda describes the word's importance through the use of imagery.
In The Word, Neruda talks about the word being passed on from generation to generation and how language is passed down and expanded upon. Thunder could mean the loss or misinterpretation of language and then becomes clear with time and advances. Neruda makes a point of us all being connected through language.
Neruda praises language in this poem nearly to a religious degree. He references "the word" as having been born of water and blood. Both water and blood have great significance in many religions; and I think he puposely incorporated religious elements to emphasize the importance of language.
In "The Word" Neruda talks about the formation of words and the language behind them all. He shows how words can express deep emotions and can help you understand others. He also shows how words can be expressed in other ways then communication. And how over time they have become more complicated then how they were simple in the beginning.
Pablo Neruda's poem, The Word, is a strong and thought provoking poem. I found it interesting the way he described the word, and the beginning of words with such detail. His strong imagery of comparing words with "blood", "death", and "birth" expresses Neruda's belief in the significance of words. I also found it interesting the way he explains that even the first word is still here; this shows how important and universal language is in the world.
Neruda begins The Word with powerful, violent imagery to describe the birth of the word. Personification is used to make the word seem to be like a "living thing". As the poem develops, the word develops as well, becoming more meaningful and sophisticated. I think that the poem loses its natural rhythm when it is translated into english. When you read the first stanza in spanish you can feel the pulsing that the author is describing through the poems meter.
In "The Word," Neruda stresses the importance of the human language. He says, "for human beings, not to speak is to die." Basically, without words, we would be getting nowhere, because good communication is a vital part of success. In this short poem, Neruda manages to take the reader back to the time of the very first word and he shows how this one word grew and grew and eventually sparked an entire vocabulary of words. One characteristic of the word is a "wavelength that connects us," which suggests that it brings different cultures together. Words give everything significance and value. This is demonstrated in the final line of the poem: "Words give glass-quality to glass, blood to blood. and life to life itself." According to Neruda, words are the basis of all human life and without them, we'd be living in total silence and darkness.
Neruda's "The Word" is a story about the evolution and development of the human language. He stresses the importance of language, not only spoken but also physical (body) language. The development of language allows us to express our emotions and thoughts to others and this development is continual - language is always changing.
Neruda speaks of the word as it first was formed. He explains how it was more of an action but later took form and meaning. I think there is an under lying meaning that we have given to words. He tries to express that even though there are set definitions of words, over time humans have given language a strong and more in depth meaning. At the end Neruda says, "words give crystal to the crystal, blood to the blood, and give life to life", but what he is saying is that word has given meaning to life itself.
Neruda is talking about the importance of the word and the essential role it plays in our lives. He clarifies how the word is not only something said, but also can be expressed by other means such as hair and eyes. The word is symbolic of our essence as human beings just as the heart is associated with existence.
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