Thanks for all the hard work this semester. I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable summer holiday. Remember to spend a moment now and then thinking about what topic you're going to work on next semester for your individual research project. Think of something you're interested in, something you'll enjoy researching, writing on and learning more about.
Here's something for some of you to ponder over the break. See if you agree!
"Human beings do not live in the objective world alone, nor alone in the world of social activity as ordinarily understood, but are very much at the mercy of the particular language which has become the medium of expression for their society. It is quite an illusion to imagine that one adjusts to reality essentially without the use of language and that language is merely an incidental means of solving specific problems of communication or reflection. The fact of the matter is that the 'real world' is to a large extent unconsciously built upon the language habits of the group. No two languages are ever sufficiently similar to be considered as representing the same social reality. The worlds in which different societies live are distinct worlds, not merely the same world with different labels attached... We see and hear and otherwise experience very largely as we do because the language habits of our community predispose certain choices of interpretation." Sapir (1929)
Take care, enjoy the surf, sun and sleeping-in late, and I'll see you all in September.
cheers,
Michael
