Language - Writing - Thought

To write, it is very important to understand in what language we think. Often, our expression language being english, our writings in english are translations from our thinking language (often mother tongue or the closest language to it). The way in which we frame our thoughts in english heavily depends on translation of ideas from our thinking language to communication language. We try to inculcate a habit of writing in our studios/sessions. Writing helps crystallize thought, understand our structure of thought.

What I actually want to discuss here is that I have found students expressing much better if allowed to express in their own thinking language. If one is familiar with reading another's thinking language, the maturity of thought is evident. We often read English passages written by students and feel they are not good enough.

I wonder if i am biased when i push students to express themselves in writing. May be that is not what everyone is comfortable with.

Students crave for instructional notes. They never feel like having their own versions of understandings. I used to assimilate my understanding in a separate book right from the 8th standard - I prepared my own notes, I would look up 3 textbooks and pick the easiest sentences to build my answer. I would note down whatever extra the teacher told apart from the textbook - but i do realize that it's only about me! The world is not the same.

What writing does to me, it may not do the same to anyone else. Writing helps me clarify my thoughts; reconsider my thoughts, or even reflect upon my thoughts. I am a confused person. But I constantly find ways of channelizing my confusions into workable things. I think confusions have potentials. One can explore them.

But there are so few of them who like to explore. Students are so less exploratory. Or may be I am too ambitious. But when I donot find myself in a company of exploratory people, I feel lost. How paradoxical! Often i sit in family gatherings and be quiet for hours. Perhaps they talk of different things. Or perhaps I think of completely different things.

Cycloid on sine wave

After reading my post on cycloids, my friend from Harvard tried actually doing this experiment and sent me an interesting video.

This was long due.
Here it is for all!

Ageing

Sonal (Sunderarajan)once said, ageing feels so good. I think I agree to her!

Lost stories

I must say that I lose so many of my posts to time. As they say, thoughts run faster than light. Every morning, my mind thinks excellently well, when thoughts come to me quite structured, on different issues, different things, intense debates! however, I am never in a position to record them. They almost evaporate during the day itself! I dont know how to revive them! I have therefore started to maintain a separate diary for my thoughts which shall become papers at some time in my life. But i wonder if that will happen anytime soon.

As more and more people start reading the blog, the lesser it remains private. Although I am happy that there a slight more readership, I am not sure if it must curtail the recording of my thoughts - because some of these thoughts are personal commentaries on some people around me! But those better not be shared. Otherwise, this space would become highly political.

On the other hand, some one must suggest me how can I record thoughts while I am travelling, or even how to record them especially when they are escaping at the speed of light!

there was a story I wanted to write long back, about a year back on the issue of heat in the city, made graphics for that, and now have no frame of mind to put it down. On the other hand, there are texts which are written but not posted, an almost 1500 word incomplete experience of my uncle's last days in the hospital... when i read it again after almost 1.5 years, it placed me back in time, in the tense moments that we as a family experience. Perhaps that is when writing becomes important to me, to relive these intense moments, that sometimes give a lot to learn...

so let me try if I can record any of my past/lost stories...

:)