viernes, 13 de mayo de 2011

Because It Can #2 - The nature of perception in creation and reality

by Liam Bourret-Nyffeler

Language as a tool of thought and expression is closely linked to perception. At its simplest level we have the creation of paradoxes through the nature of English. A hand exists fairly objectively I would argue. Yet a closed hand is bit of a useless expression as the word fist exists; combining both concepts, and yet closed is a necessary part of fist. It cannot exist in any other state. An open fist.... just no. It's a hand. Yet open hand is more specific... it all gets little to much if you start to think about it.... so don't... Oh! wait... we already are.

Let's move on to something similar.
A not. You tie it, and it's done. You untie it and it's undone. In the sense that it was done but the process was reversed. The other sense is that it was never done in the first place. Meaning you still have rope, an open hand to link the metaphor. Yet you can think about this undone knot even though it doesn't exist, never did and, assuming you ensure it isn't.. let's say by burning the rope, it never will be. Yet we create it by perceiving the possibility... I could have made it. The language created this "knot" out of rope.

The list goes on but here's a response to a typical hispanophone criticism of English.
"There is no way to say te amo."
Yes there is. I love you. Sure yes the concept "Te quiero" represents can also be represented by the same words but we can perceive both emotions.. English just considers love more general than amor and  I guess "cariño" will have to do.

And while listening to people who speak both languages discuss this, a smile comes to my face... mostly because I love irony. Did they never stop to think... you know... if I complain about there only being 1 word in English ... who says it stops at 2...

Personally, I don't know about you... and I'm not judging here, but I wouldn't say I "love" my family i.e. mum dad sisters in the same way as ... well "my" family i.e. wife and children. I don't love my wife in the same way as I love my friends... or chocolate... or the dog. Yes in Spanish people will say... well OK but context... it understood... YES. Thank you. Of course it is. As it is in English... the listener just needs to do a little bit more work.
Who is to say that other languages don't have terms for romantic vs familiar love? In fact, as I understand it, in Japanese my girlfriend can "love" me as can my dog... it seems a sort of adoring romantic love. However, if I use that same term to say I love my dog...... you are expressing something that is best described as.. illegal. I don't romantically love my dog.
So the words create that reality in each language in a different way. Why? No.. not because it can... but because that's what language is. Expression, perception. but also creation... sometimes without realising.... it works because you believe it works.. on a level so deep that it's not really even belief anymore just acceptance.... this works better in Spanish... Creer es crear

jueves, 5 de mayo de 2011

Gamification in Education 2

by Liam Bourret-Nyffeler

Ok... hmm. So I was going to write something else but tonight the same people at Extra Creditz [sic] uploaded a new video focusing on this with a focus on education.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/3167-Gamifying-Education

I write this a little on the spot as I was not expecting a follow-up to their previous video but I find that I could well be worth investing more time in some of the ideas they put forward. I especially like the idea of the earning levels system. This is something I know from personal experience in online military FPS (First Person Shooter) games, although I rarely find myself too interested in that particular genre. However, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare changed the landscape when they implemented this system and I found enjoying myself far more than I would otherwise have done so.

Please post critical responses to the points they bring up. I will be honest that I'm not hugely convinced of some of the linking activities they suggest however I am more than open to try as I have little knowledge of that style of teaching.