13 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT GRAMMAR, WORDS & LANGUAGES!

 

 

#1 A WORD IS A FORM OF ENERGY!

The ancient Indian sages say that a word is not just a word, but a form of energy which carries within it the potential of transformation.

 

It is only through the words that people like writers, poets and storytellers are able to weave magic through their writings, poems and stories!

 

#2 GRAMMAR IMPLIES ‘THE LOGIC OF LANGUAGE’!

In Indian texts, grammar is referred to, by the terms such as “Vyakaran”.

 

The Sanskrit word Vyakaran implies separation, distinction, discrimination, analysis, explanation, logic" of something.

 

And so, Grammar can be understood as the science of studying the logic or the structure of language!

 

#3 THE SCIENCE OF GRAMMAR IS APPROX. 3000 YEARS OLD!

Grammar is one of the most ancient sciences dating back to the Vedic period. This field of grammar also makes up one of the six Vedangas in the scriptures of Vedas or Vedic Studies.

 

Grammar or Vyakaran is related to the fourth Vedanga of Vedas – this Vedanga is named as ‘Nirukta’…

 

#4 SANSKRIT & GREEK MARK THE ORIGINS OF GRAMMAR!

Most of the words and grammar are derived from two main languages that is, Sanskrit and Greek!

 

#5 THE WORD “ALPHABET” IS DERIVED FROM FIRST TWO CHARACTERS OF GREEK LANGUAGE!

The word “alphabet” is derived from the combination of the first two characters of Greek language, that is, “alpha” and “beta”!

 

Alphabet = Alpha (alpha) + bet (beta)

 

#6 GRAMMAR IS THE SCIENCE OF STUDYING DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF REALITY & LIFE!

The popular linguist & writer, Ẓevi Scharfstein said that, the field of grammar is much more than merely a study of words and relations between words.

 

Rather, grammar is understood to be the study of reality itself as well as the relations between different dimensions of reality.

 

According to Vedas, the main purpose of the field of grammar is to utilize the medium of “words” to their best possible effective means in order to realize the underlying principle of all reality and to break the chain of ignorance.

 

Also known as shabd-yoga, the field of grammar was originally aimed at understanding the root and significance of the word itself. By understanding the root of words and the fundamental structure of language, we can also understand, and thereupon, realize the fundamental principle of life itself.

 

#7 IN ENGLISH, EACH CONSONANT CARRIES ITS OWN SOUND UNLIKE HINDI OR SANSKRIT!

In English, each consonant has its own sound like B(bee), K(kay), F(eff), S(ess); unlike Sanskrit, where, each consonant has its sound ending in अ(a), क(ka), प(pa), र(ra), श (sha), स(sa),  ह(ha) etc.

 

#8 GRAMMATICAL THEORY IS NOT LIMITED TO LANGUAGE. IT ALSO CONNECTS TO MATHEMATICS, COMPUTERS & EVEN QUANTUM PHYSICS!

If you’d look into the origins of grammatical theory, you’d discover that, it offers direct access to anyone to understand and gain insight into the plane of alignment, where maths combines music, analytical combines intuitive, spirituality combines science.

You’d be fascinated to discover that most of the computer languages have their origins in the Sanskrit Grammar.

 

#9 SOUND IS THE SUBTLEST ELEMENT OF GRAMMAR!

According to Quantum physics, each object is made up of some unique or composite pattern of vibration.

Sanskrit’s consonants too are rooted in the root sound vibrations of the universe – the vowels and consonants of Sanskrit are made up of these core sounds – known as bijas – ancient sages meditated on perceiving these bija sounds and gained inherent intuition of the bija sounds of everything.

Sanskrit word is not only a label for an object but a reflection of the bija sound vibration composing that object in its fundamental reality…

Sound is the subtlest element of grammar – manipulation of sounds and words can allow the manipulation of matter – the reason why mantras are recited during prayer or for peace of mind. It also relates to the various vibrational frequencies mentioned in the field of quantum physics.

 

#10 SANSKRIT IS THE ONLY PERFECTED LANGUAGE IN THE WORLD!

NASA declares Sanskrit as the “the only unambiguous language on the planet”

Also called as the “Perfected Language” or the “Self-made Language”, Sanskrit is said to be the number one language to be learned to gain the understanding of linguistics as well as computers. It is the basis of many common languages including Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi as well as computer languages

Hundreds if not thousands of Sanskrit words are found in Oxford dictionary today

 

#11 NO WORD HAS A FIXED MEANING!

Each word has a meaning

However, the meaning of a word is not something which is constant. It fluidly changes from moment-to-moment and from context-to-context.

 

#12 SYLLABLES ARE BEATS OF THE WORD. PHONEMES ARE SOUNDS OF A WORD!

A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound.

A syllable is the smallest unit of pronunciation, consisting of a pair of a vowel and surrounding consonant(s).

A word is a collection of phonemes.

For example: The word “egg” consists of one syllable “aig”, but two phonemes “ai + ga”

 

#13 HUMANS HAVE A UNIVERSAL GRAMMAR!

There are thousands of kinds of grammatical theories corresponding to the thousands of kinds of languages and sciences. According to the eminent linguist, philosopher and scientist Noam Chmosky, there is no one rule which underlies grammar in general, however, at the same time, all kinds of grammar do have an underlying invisible grammar which he termed as the Universal Grammar. This is a theoretical concept of grammar which discusses the genetic component of language and proposes that human brain contains an innate mental grammar that helps humans acquire language.

Just the way as kids intuitively understand, learn and speak language without any technical knowledge of grammar.

Thank you, enjoy, have a good day & keep writing! 📚 And, remember to subscribe to Neha's Notebook, for more interesting ideas related to writing, art and life!

Neha

Syllable Manipulation Tactics For Shortform Writing in Copywriting, Content Writing & Creative Writing

 

Syllable manipulation is an exciting approach to add the element of wittiness, clubbability and fun to the style of your writing.

 

In linguistics, Syllable manipulation comes under the combined umbrella of phonetics, phonotactics and morphology. 

WHAT IS SYLLABLE MANIPULATION?

The technique of writing in which the set of syllables forming a word, are manipulated, in order to form new words or to add style to the writing.

THE TACTICS OF SYLLABLE MANIPULATION?

The process of syllable manipulation mainly includes the tactics of syllable segmentation, syllable isolation, syllable addition, syllable deletion, syllable substituition, syllable scramble and syllable blend.

WHERE IS SYLLABLE MANIPULATION BEST USED IN WRITING?

The tactics of syllable manipulation are best utilized for writing shortform but powerful communication/marketing content such as names of product lines/categories, headlines, sub-part(s) of a headline, captions, promo taglines, and likewise!

6 EXAMPLES OF SYLLABLE MANIPULATION

Let us quickly review some examples to understand the interesting process of syllable manipulation!

#1 “Its Peed-zaa not Pee-zaa!”

In this sentence, we utilize the sounds in the correct and incorrect prononciation of the Italian-derived word “Pizza”.

#2 Paw-si-tee-vi-tee!

Name for a product line selling tees featuring positivity captions and cats (paws)!

#3 Goo-roos!

Consider these example sentences:

- The engineers at Tisco are the Tech Goo-roos of the coming generation!

- The goo-roos were all dressed in saffron-coloured robes

#4 Brewminate

We are brainstorming a name for the launch of a magazine that sells ideas to ruminate while sipping your morning brew...

"At Brewminate, we offer the perfect blend of ideas to ruminate while sipping your brew!"

#5 Oh-range Lipsticks!

(We are writing a promo caption for the launch of new line of lipstick products featuring a wide range,  all in different orange shades)

#6 Newspaper Headlines - "Elephants in the zoo" AND "Elle-faints in the zoo"

Syllable segmentation of the word elephants followed by syllable substituition (pha with fai) can lend a totally different meaning to the sentence.

Thank you & Good day!

Keep writing and subscribe to my channel for more exciting ideas related to writing, art & life!

Neha

GRAMMAR IN A SNAPSHOT FOR WRITERS

 

7 CONFLICTS THAT WILL BOGGLE YOUR MIND!

#1 “laugh” and “laaf”

Why do we spell & write the word “laugh” as “laugh” and not “laaf”?

(despite the fact that both the words sound exactly the same)

 

#2 “cat” and “pasta”

How do we instinctively (and so easily!) discriminate between the two different sounds as pronounced by the alphabet “t” in these two words?

What causes our mind to grasp this difference?

 

#3 “books these read us let.”

“Let us read these books.”

Why does the first sentence make no sense to our mind whereas with just a simple regrouping of words, the second sentence immediately makes sense?

 

#4 “Let’s cook Bunty!”

“Let’s cook, Bunty!”

Why and how come a single comma makes the difference of heaven and hell in these two sentences?

 

#5“The bear eats a leaf.”

“The leaf eats a bear.”

How does the meaning of the sentence alters drastically just by shifting the places of the two words “bear” and “leaf”?

How does our mind distinguish between the two sentences? What is the algorithmic pattern or knowledge behind it?

 

#6 “apple of my eye”

How do we instinctively understand the meaning of the idiomatic phrase like “apple of my eye” in a totally non-literal sense?

(Ideally, apple of my eye should mean that there is a part of my eye which is called as apple but when reading this phrase we understand that it is referring to a person who is cherished or lovable to us.

 

#7 “sunlight was dancing in patterns on the tiled floor of my office cabin”

Well, how can an inanimate object like that of sunlight, ever dance?

 

 

One word summarizes these conflicts.

 

That is,

Order.

 

GRAMMAR - THE ORDER OF WORDS & LANGUAGE!

There is an invisible order in everything.

An invisible and infinitely-complex mathematical algorithm, mysteriously hidden beneath the layers of the wordy universe, appearing to us, through our five senses.

A secret thread connecting all realities.

A symphony of perfect logic, enigmatically resonating, behind all the chaos of this illogical and dramatic life.

In different fields, this order is represented by different elements, fundamental to the respective field.

In mathematics, this fundamental element is the “zero”.

In music, this fundamental element is the “space” or the “ether”.

In the realm of language, this fundamental element is the “word”,

and the field of grammar takes the role of representing this secret order through the medium of words.

 

This video show presents the utility of grammar in context of creative writing, while explaining the six main components of grammatical theory in language, so as to keep the video not too long…   

6 POINTERS TO REMEMBER ABOUT GRAMMAR

#1   The realm of grammar correlates to the logical part of our brain namely, our intellect.

#2  Just the same way we strive to maintain the balance between our intellectual brain and emotional brain, similarly, a piece of creative writing is a balance between raw expression and grammar.

#3  Grammar acts as a boundary-setter offering us a set of structural constraints while we sit down to pen a piece of writing.

#4  Grammar is NOT a set of some definite rules. Not one rule can be applied to every piece of writing.

o   Writing comics require different kind of grammar rules than writing poetry does.

o   Writing a technology handbook requires a different kind of grammatical construct than writing a blog post.

o   The fundamental rules of grammar may also vary from language to language.

#5  Originally, the field of grammar has evolved from Sanskrit, Greek and Latin.

#6  Ancient Indian sages believed that a word is not just a word, but a form of energy. Grammar acts as the sculptor’s anatomy of this form just as a potter provides the form of a mudpot to a heap of mud or just as a jeweler shapes raw gold into an ornament.

 

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LANGUAGE & GRAMMAR

While language is the natural ability for expression and communication using words, sounds & voices, whereas grammar is the field, under language’s umbrella, where we study structural construct(s) behind the expression, communication & usage of words and word forms.

When it comes to language, anything and everything has a language of its own, to express its unique nature. Even animals and birds, even flowers and trees have a language of their own. Stars have a language – the way fortune-tellers read the stars and patterns of constellations. Earth, wind, water, fire; the entire cosmos is filled with these languages. However, these beasts such as lions, woodpeckers, or sunflowers don’t seem to pay much attention to grammar.

Only we humans do.

Why?

Because it matters to us, what is being said and how it is understood.  

Whether you tell a child “Let’s eat grandma” or “Let’s eat, grandma”,

the tiny difference between the two sentences, can cause us humans the difference between life and death!

And who knows, it is very possible after all, that, perhaps, even the seemingly inanimate beings like grains of sand or bluebells, or crocodiles too have a grammar

a secret grammar that only their fellow grains or fellow bluebells or fellow crocodiles can understand.

Or a mysterious set of grammatical rules that all the roses follow but only their fellow rose friends know about.

But what concerns us humans, is how best can we use our own grammar. Because we can write!

Monkeys or crocodiles or rabbits or lions don’t seem to write.

What do you think?

 

THE 3 REALMS OF GRAMMAR

There are three realms of grammar.

 

1. Sound [swara]

2. Form & Content [shabd roop]

3. Meaning [artha]

 

THE 6 MAIN COMPONENTS OF GRAMMAR

#1   Phonetics[swar-vigyan] 

- Study of speech sounds

- The vocal sounds used for the formation of word syllables and resulting from the properties of human voice.

- Ex: ta-da-rum-pum, bee-u-tee, bl-oo, ss-paa-eed-urr, maa-oon-tae-nn etc.

#2  Phonology[dhvani-vigyan]

- Study of discrimination of sounds

- The alphabet “t” has different sounds in the words “mat”, “match” and “matchstick”.

#3  Morphology [shabd saadhan, aakriti vigyan]

- Study of word construct & word formation processes

- Ex: unmatchable – un is prefix, able is suffix, match is the root word

#4  Syntax[vaakya-vigyan]

- Study of arrangement of words in the formation of longer word forms such as phrases and sentences

- Relationship between words

- Word order

- Ex: “Let’s eat bear, tents and gossip!” and “Let’s eat, bear tents, and gossip!”

- Ex: “This beautiful poem was written by she, when she was in love.” and “This beautiful poem was written by her, when she was in love.”

#5  Semantics[artha-vigyan]

- Study of the literal meanings of words & word forms – dictionary definition of a word

- Ex: “We should spend more time together” and “Should we spend more time together”

- Ex: “I felt shocked at hearing of his sudden demise!” and “I felt shocked at hearing my name announced for the award!”

#6  Pragmatics[upyogitavaad]

- Study of the inferred/pointed meaning of a word or a word form specific to a context or usage.

- Ex: “She was fortunate that she kicked the bucket only after living the whole century.” and “She was fortunate that she kicked the bucket which was empty and not the one which was full of mudwater.”

- Ex: “Your eyes are the battery of my heart.” and “I couldn’t charge my phone’s battery because I had misplaced the charger.”

 

SUMMARY DIAGRAM 

 

HOW MANY CONCEPTS/TOPICS ARE THERE IN GRAMMAR?

There can be infinite number of concepts and topics that we shall come across while deconstructing the realm of grammar.

From topics related to alphabets and strings of syllables, to the topics dealing in word formations and sentence structures, to the line of concepts pertaining to meaning and context, there are infinite permutations to explore and study in the field of grammar.

 

If you’re interested in exploring more ideas related to grammar and creative writing, stay tuned for my upcoming videos!

 

Thank you

Good day!

Keep writing & subscribe to my channel for more interesting ideas related to writing, art and life!