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They believed that language does not cut us off from reality, but puts us in contact with it, as the largest window in the house of the soul. |
They believed that language does not cut us off from reality, but puts us in contact with it, as the largest window in the house of the soul. |
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| − | According to Princess Irulan in the [[Arrakeen War College]], language change can signal social unrest and with this insight the [[Imperial Security Force]] should be ever alert to the formation of sub-languages |
+ | According to Princess Irulan in the [[Arrakeen War College]], language change can signal social unrest and with this insight the [[Imperial Security Force]] should be ever alert to the formation of sub-languages |
| − | When the BG analyzed syntax, they used "generative grammar", a system already ancient when the empire was [[Battle of Corrin/DE|founded]]. Its basic tenet was that finite concepts and finite elements of language from a finite mind can result in infinite |
+ | When the BG analyzed syntax, they used "generative grammar", a system already ancient when the empire was [[Battle of Corrin/DE|founded]]. Its basic tenet was that finite concepts and finite elements of language from a finite mind can result in infinite "rule-governed creativity", a potential similar to DNA.. |
====First objective==== |
====First objective==== |
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The BG studied the main galactic languages and their dialects to identify what puts the fingerprint of the speaker. This served to understand others and how the mind reveals itself. |
The BG studied the main galactic languages and their dialects to identify what puts the fingerprint of the speaker. This served to understand others and how the mind reveals itself. |
||
Revision as of 13:04, 7 June 2009
Training
Languages
Tongues are the Bene Gesserit's first training both for understanding others and also to liberate the self.
They believed that language does not cut us off from reality, but puts us in contact with it, as the largest window in the house of the soul.
According to Princess Irulan in the Arrakeen War College, language change can signal social unrest and with this insight the Imperial Security Force should be ever alert to the formation of sub-languages
When the BG analyzed syntax, they used "generative grammar", a system already ancient when the empire was founded. Its basic tenet was that finite concepts and finite elements of language from a finite mind can result in infinite "rule-governed creativity", a potential similar to DNA..
First objective
The BG studied the main galactic languages and their dialects to identify what puts the fingerprint of the speaker. This served to understand others and how the mind reveals itself.
One subject of study was "Language-Thought Orientation", the way in which language and thought intermingle. For example by observing flexure of facial muscles, pulsebeat in the neck, pupils and other signs of tension, they could determine whether a speaker was a native of a language or not.
They would sometimes make an impostor betray himself by withholding responses and recognition signals, increasing the tension of the speaker; the BG would then lead the conversation in "Diagnostics" topics to present further hesitation points from a range of languages.
Liber Ricarum mentioned one such Diagnostic concerning linguistic specializations in a certain way of life, recognized by words, assumptions and structures.
Second objective
The second objective in their study was the liberation of self and the Path of Understanding.
For example, a novice and aspirant might be asked to divide a set of sentences into two groups:
- The emperor realizes (something)
- The emperor regrets (something)
- The emperor believes (something)
- The emperor knows (something)
- The emperor says (something)
- The emperor claims (something)
The expected answer is the grouping of the sentences in 1-2-4 (the speaker accepts the truth of the clause (something) shared also by the emperor) and 3-5-6 (no commitment by the speaker about the (something))