Klarinet Archive - Posting 000701.txt from 2000/11

From: alevin@-----. Levin)
Subj: Re: [kl] Opinions and metaphors
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 13:49:32 -0500

Tony:

You do understand the problem. I knew it. The problem is the inevitable
imprecision of using one medium (written language)to define another (played
music). Written and spoken languages are alike but not identical. Written
and played (sung) music are alike but not identical. Music is not of the
same family as written and spoken languages. The mere task of moving from
one to another introduces imprecision and warps the "translation".
Much as I hate to credit my least favorite philosophers, Wittgenstien and
McCluhan, the task may be impossible without the use of metaphor.

My original post started as a humorous jab at the problem; but, about 3
seconds after I pressed the "Send" button, I realized that this was a
really classic example of it.

In the case of your Albert, I have a mental sound image of the improvement
- and I'm comfortable with that image. But without hearing it, I can never
be certain that I understand what you heard.

>

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