The Word Palace

Using words is more than a social routine; it is part of the human nature; words are not tools, but living structures and humans are not their users, but their wielders. The words’ value is limitless, but their existence, taken for granted. Humans have been wielding words for millennia but, alas, are still to homogeneously grasp the uniqueness and supremacy of Words, which prevents them from stepping into the Word Palace.

The Word Palace is a sacred place, open exclusively to those who not only esteem but respect the nature and ubiquity of Words. Consider this an attempt to humble anyone involved in this text, including myself. Few of us are currently worthy of acceptance into the Word Palace, but, changing that is within our power — as it should also be within our prime interests. The Palace has enough room for every single Word user in existence. It does not have, however, tolerance for acceptance of unworthy users — of which, the human race has many to offer.

Let us all pay back the Words for the countless problems they have solved, and messages they have transmitted. Let us treat them like the true intellectual masterpieces that they are, and not as mere means to our communication ends. The process of achieving all this includes the practice of major interconnected elements of Word-wielding that we must all master, for the sake of the Palace, and ourselves. Those include: gravity, complexity, and training.

Gravity

Suppose one wishes to express their utmost dislike towards something. They may do so by saying:

“I really don’t like this.”, or “I don’t like this at all.”

Objectively, either of the above sentences are succesful in passing through the message that the person does not like this at all. It is, though, merely a beginners’ tactic to express this idea. That is, because the user does not utilise the parameter of gravity in their Word-wielding.

Rather, if the wielder wishes to underline a factor within their sentence, they may use words that carry greater gravity by nature:

“I detest this.”, or “I despise this.”

Such an alteration not only indicates that the user is able to wield Words in a more advanced level that an average user, but also meets the crucial factor of simplicity, as it shortens their statements and helps others understand their sentences easiers.

All the same applies in cases where the aspect of gravity does not only refer to a scale or a measure of the verb or subject. (how much something happens). As a matter of fact, sometimes, gravity is contextual and it is up to the wielder to decide how to handle the gravity of the given situation.

Consider the following phrase:

“I will do it.”

Such a period could be in reply to an infinite amount of answers in an equally undetermined number of scenarios. Of those, we shall only consider two:

1. The sentence is in reply to the question “Will you wash the dishes?”.
2. The sentence is in reply to the question “Will you kill someone for me?”.

Evidently, the difference between the two contexts is the gravity which the reply to the questions carry. In this example, the wielder did not alter a single term of their sentence in reply to either question. Yet, the gravity that their reply carries is vastly different between the two scenarios.

Thus, the wielder must be aware of cases when gravity is attached to words that, normally, would not carry any. Achieving this means that they not only embed the aspect of gravity in their own wielding, but also that they respect the deceiving forms that gravity may occasionally assume, and act accordingly.

Complexity

The issue of complexity in word-wielding is not about complexity per se, but rather, of modern-day wielders’ stance towards it.

Word-wielders have become unsettlingly reluctant towards structuring complex sentences with dense meanings and demanding syntaxt. Partly, this is due to lack of proper training (discussed bellow in “training”), but it is also because of a dominant misconception concerning the nature of complexity itself. It is the notion that literary simplicity is superior to complexity (similar to Laconism’s norms). Admittedly, simplicity is, quite often, more efficient and friendly that complexity in terms of language.

However, this is not an issue of comparison between complexity and simplicity, but of how wielders handle complexity when they cannot attain the luxury of simplicity.

Wielders are often hesitant to delve into the realm of literary complexity, either in fear of becoming incomprehensible, or confusing their own selves in the process. Both scenarios are quite realistic and likely, but that does not mean that words are only meant to be strictly used simply. Word-wielders must accept that certain concepts — especially derivates of human thought and intelligence — merely cannot be expressed (let alone analysed) in simple terms.

Wether a complex literary structure will prove incomprehensible and confusing, is up to the wielders’ abilities, not the words’ capacities. Fortunately, language provides wielders with all the necessary tools to properly handle the situation — syntax, grammar, synonyms, abbreviations etc.

Complexity is not an enemy of words, but is certainly a severe judge to the wielder’s skills. Once wielders start embracing the aspect of complexity without trying to avoid it, they will be one step closer to the gates of the Word Palace.

Training

The two afore mentioned aspects of gravity and complexity — along for countless more that went unmentioned in this piece — all connect and develop through a single activity: training.

At first sight, one would claim that there is a contradiction between the aspect of training and the innate character of Words for humans — addressed in the introduction of the text. Rest assured, though, that there is none. The innate element of Words does not imply that Words are innately part of humans, but that they are innately able to receive, learn and wield them. Consider this simple truth as proof of this: No human newborn ever knew what “predetermined” means before growing up and learning that. The only innately word concept that humans are born with, is the tendency to learn how to wield words.

With that in consideration, it is evident that, however innate as a concept of the Human nature, Word-wielding is an art that must be learnt and practiced on a daily basis and for a duration of humans’ entire lifetimes.

Wielders must daily challenge themselves to improve their word-wielding. Merely repeating common phrases so to quickly pass a message through is a misuse of Words and and a sign of disrespect to their image — recall, respecting Words is a major prerequisite for entering the Palace. At this point, it should be clear why respect is a necessary aspect of the Word Palace. Humans are very much capable of not advancing their wielding skills and going through almost the rest of their lives without learning and wielding new words, grammar, and syntax. This scenario is very much plausible, but not similarly tolerable if one wishes to enter the Palace.

A Repetitive and Idle Wielder is a Word Outlaw

One can think of a non-advancing, idle Word-Wielder as an outlaw in the Justice System of Words. Recall that words are not mere tools and the relationship between them and humans should be one of mutual respect; not one fuelled by humans’ desire to bend the world to their will, for their own ends. Words and their potential are very much alive; as much so, in fact, as humans — if not more. Therefore, not respecting the Words’ entity, this humans’ offence against words should be judged by a Justice system, which, clearly, cannot be our, human-driven legal framework. So, in the Words’ Justice System, our behaviour towards Words undoubtedly renders us outlaws, if not downright criminals.

This confession leads us to the unfortunate conclusion that there is no middle ground between being a Word outlaw and a Word-Palace member.

Consider this dynamic a victim of the War of Opposites, per pre-Socratic philosopher Anaximander’s remarks, without the luxury of a Golden Mean, per post-Socratic philosophical views.

With no Golden Mean to offset the extremes, humans’ better choice out of the two, is, unquestionably, the Palace. It is better to enjoy a surplus of knowledge of Words, than suffer an akin deficit, especially since the vastness of the Word Palace makes the former virtually impossible for humans to achieve.

Let us train, and let us all express our intellectual treasures in the best way possible, through actual word-wielding; through a diverse, ever-developing word portfolio, paired with critical thinking, to help foster dialogue in as much a lively manner as human growth itself. We shall work every day towards becoming worthy Wielders; and then, we may proudly step together in the priceless Palace, exclusively destined for true intelligence, of which we will prove worthy.