Language Affects Reality (Part 1: e-Prime) [Esoteric Saturdays]

E-prime is a controversial tool, mainly because people have suggested using only e-prime, which obviously causes significant inconveniences, but I think that as every tool, while there are times when it just gets in the way, there are also times when it can significantly enhance our lives.
Quantum Psychology by Robert Anton Wilson:
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[@dakinilover]

"Quantum Psychology" was the book that had significant influence on my understanding of reality. I was already familiar with Buddhist concept that the so called "I" consists of elements that are subject to change and are in a way an illusion, so we should not get too attached to it. Wilson's book and E-prime sends the same message, making one realize that we are more than just "labels" we use, and if we look at reality from that perspective, not only we avoid the risk of attachment, but also we have the chance to discover true reality behind the language. Labels are useful to navigate the world, but we tend to forget they are just tools and conflate them with reality. Such simplification limits our own capability to view things in a larger context and creates all sorts of problems. I still practice Buddhist meditation, but at some point I decided to stop referring to myself as "Buddhist", because I realized that by doing so I run the risk of getting too attached to that identity, which could potentially make me biased and closed-minded. Besides, if I continued to use this label, it would make me a hypocrite, because I often criticize others for being too attached to their identities and ideologies. I've been closely observing social and political changes in the US and UK and as a result, I became a sworn enemy of "identity politics", because it seems they have very detrimental effect on people's psyche. Strong attachment to identity and mistaking it for reality results in increase in polarization and tribalism. Such division leads only to conflict. Knowing two languages is a real blessing, because it allows one to see things from wider perspective. I live like a hermit and don't have much contact with people. I almost exclusively read books and watch videos in English, and I noticed that sometimes when meeting with people I have trouble communicating in Polish. Thoughts appear in my head in English and suddenly I discover that what I want to communicate can not be expressed accurately in Polish and some tiny part gets lost in translation. Being bilingual can show you the limitations of language and being aware of them helps one to focus more on reality that exists behind words. Map is not the territory and words are not reality ;)

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Yes! All of this! In fact, one of the things that made me choose Poland as a place to live back in 2003 was the fact that the Polish language is neither Germanic like English, nor Latin like french, and I was eager to experience yet another point of view. It was actually here that I read QP for the first time, I can't imagine what my adult life would have looked like if I hadn't... Labels sure provide convenient shortcuts, but they don't half bolt your reality in place...

[@dakinilover]

@@FoolishFishBooks I don't know if it's because your half french background, but I noticed that you pronounced "Korzybski" perfectly :) I feel sorry for any foreigner who tries to learn Polish ;) For me English is truly remarkable language, because a single word can be used in multiple ways, as a noun or verb, resulting in various combinations. For example, I never before heard the expression "half bolt", but I know what you mean ;) I can't think of any other book that produced in me such life-changing effect. Sometimes you read a book and you feel that it's a real gem, but "Quantum Psychology" goes even beyond that. I'm thinking that one reason this book is not so popular as it should be, is that it's difficult to pin down and categorize. It's neither science, nor religion, but at the same time it's both ;) I wish more people could benefit from reading it, but maybe, because of its elusive nature, it will attract only certain type of people who are naturally hungry for knowledge. Damn, now I have no other choice than to read it again ;)

[@lauralucy1]

Dakinilover I can’t help but wonder is “living like a hermit” cheating a bit. Dealing with people is perhaps one of the biggest challenges we face but also the thing which helps us grow the most. Reading books all day will of course give you great knowledge but you need real life experience to turn this knowledge into wisdom. Developing positive relationships and all that...??? Not judging, just sayin 🤷🏼‍♀️ ☘️

[@dakinilover]

@@lauralucy1 My interactions with people are limited, but they are sufficient enough to have experiences that allow me to put my understanding into practice. I'm just more introverted than most, so I deal with people on a more personal level and on limited scale, which makes such interactions even more powerful in terms of spiritual progress through experiences. I like to say I choose quality over quantity ;) But It's not my conscious choice. That's just the way I am, so I make the most if it. Those few relationships I have are positive, but this positivity does not come from the relationships themselves, but from me being positive, so it's the other way around. My happiness is not dependent on others or on the amount of people I interact with, it comes from within :)

[@lauralucy1]

Dakinilover Oh I see. Good for you. Peace Brother ☘️

[@mertkusluvan3107]

"Limits of my language are the limits of my world" -Ludwig Wittgenstein

[@gjr72]

Spanish has the differentiation embedded in its structure. The verb To Be equals Ser o Estar. Ser is for permanent states of being and Estar is for temporary situations, for example: I am sad can be either yo estoy triste, meaning that at that precise moment something is making you sad; or it can be Yo soy triste, meaning that you are a sad person all the time.

[@ElectronicaAvanzadaPrismaCem]

El español es sin duda una maravilla.

[@ananuvella]

@@ElectronicaAvanzadaPrismaCem cuéntame qué te gusta del español

[@RippedPantsss]

No matter how you feel or where you are use Estar

[@hue_jazz59]

When I began to think in Spanish, I found new ways to articulate my English

[@josemartz549]

No one in any self respecting Spanish speaking country would ever say "yo soy triste" lmfao

[@dreadharte9746]

Language does indeed affect how you perceive the world. I was blown away as a teen when I watched the BBC panorama episode on colour and our perception of it. Merely the language we use to talk about the world seems to drastically alter how we view it - and then when I learned how pixels work (RGB) and how most of its colours were illusionary, I began wondering: "if *humans* can alter how other humans view reality, then..." which led to a cascade of existential dilemmas. Now here I am, aged 30 and still wrestling with those same dilemmas. Keep up the great videos mate, always a pleasure to catch up with you.

[@JasonJrake]

Dreadharte two great books with practical stuff you can try yourself in regard to shifting your perception purely with language: Trance formations by Richard Bandler and/or John Grinder Thinking Clearly: an Adventure in Mental Fitness by Jerry Stocking Thinking Clearly also sells under its self published earlier title of “Cognitive Harmony,” I own both and they are identical.

[@ananuvella]

:)

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Slightly heavier material this week, I hope you enjoy it anyway. My idea is to prime us all (no pun intended) for a video next week about magical correspondences where I will end up suggesting "This is That" as one of the fundamental building blocks of magic.

[@suncat5160]

Foolish Fish ooooh sounds like 777

[@brandoncallaway8835]

I'm excited to watch it. I have always had these theories about creative consciousness and the frequencies that are emitted by objects, words, symbols, shapes and materials. I grew up christian, you know the whole, "faith the size of a grain of a mustard seed" and "be careful what you speak, for out of your mouth comes the power of life and death". Dr emotos experiments with water, images and musics effects on water and rice are pretty interesting. I always thought the powers of rocks were an airy fairy thing until i had a kundalini awakening and gained the ability to feel energies in rocks and crystals, ect. (Not going to go through twenty years explanation as to why). So my theory is tied in a little with cyamatics and hermetics and a myriad of other things like the double slit experiment. I think (actually, i am convinced) that everything emits different array of frequency. Not just rocks and thoughts ,but all things have an energetic imprint, i also think that shapes carry a frequency that have effects on things that are near them, or things that they are projected onto. Cubes could effect emotion and atoms a certain way and dodecohydrans another way ect, as well as things imprinted with collective consciousness of many people throughout time, like symbols, or even beliefs that something works a certain way, like an herb that heals something for instance. So 100,000 people all chanting a word with emotion and attention and belief, collects inside of that chant or word of power or phrase. I have been looking for anything that i can find on shapes and power words for different effects for a long time.

[@intuitiveelixir5043]

Enjoyed the content🤗

[@skylertaliesin3132]

This is an excellent concept, and I’m fortunate I came to it through therapy. I was advised to distance myself from this strict self-identification when it involved thoughts like “I am a failure” or “I am an asshole.” Instead, I learned to reframe these thoughts as “I didn’t do X as expected, but I’ve learned from the experience” and “I’ve engaged in behaviors that hurt others, and here’s how I will work to change.” It’s a way to prevent ourselves from engaging in learned helplessness, or internalizing certain behaviors or outcomes as inherent to ourselves. We remove the option for us to shrug and say “well, it will always be like this” and allow ourselves to be open and encouraging of change.

[@outoftheforest7652]

exactly.. I have honestly always resisted this concept for some reason.. but hearing this concept defined as above.. shifts it for me. I think I have a resistance to the "positive thinking" movement where I heard this from.. but hearing it from a person like Anton WIlson.. LOL..

[@zeoskydancer9574]

A major impact language has on how we perceive reality is the subject, verb, object structure of sentences. Almost all languages have this, though in different orders. It separates the subject from the action, the action from the object and the subject from the object. This separation is just a tool to communicate an idea, but because we often think in language, this tool becomes part of our thinking structure and very hard to remove. It’s one of the invisible filters and a strong one too. There is also the problem of language itself. If we say dog, the image in our heads can be widely different between people. But somehow we all just move on and accept this. Every word is subtly different to each person based on experiences, values, views, mood etc. And this is not static for the person over time. We forget words are an imprecise tool for conveying imprecise concepts. “The Dao which can be spoken is not the Dao.” This is why silent retreats can be so powerful. After a time words fall away as a filter and you perceive the oneness of reality directly (this isn’t what actually happens, but I’m trying to convey this in words.) The shock of this is quite a thing though and reintegrating with society can be hard afterwards. This is why Buddha doubted whether he would teach, though this is the classic hero initially refusing to return with the prize. And that brings us to narrative, which is another great distortion of language on reality. Particularly when we impose a tragedy structure on our past, present or future lives, but any narrative structure is a distortion. The irony of this post is not lost on me.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Ah, yes, this is 100% accurate. So much goodness to get into in your comment, thank you! "The Dao that can be spoken is (indeed) not the Dao"!

[@DayneandtheStars]

Love this! Thank you

[@thedarkestmagic3337]

A great review of a great book by a great man. This book is like corrective lenses for our perception.

[@thewandererman87]

I'll have to buy this book. I remember years ago saying to friend that language can affect your interpretation of a scenario. The example I used was the phrase "I am angry" becoming " I am feeling angry" and then to " I am feeling angry because of...". Seeing this video has made me realise that was more significant than I realised at the time.

[@limeperrier6623]

I am a Japanese, and my first language is Japanese, and I am likely bilingual. My experience is that my emotional state is very different while speaking Japanese, or speaking in English. This has been my struggle, since 25 after experiment two years’ stay in Britain. I really want to integrate two parts in me. Thanks for letting me share.

[@c.o.3487]

Amazing, that's why I've always avoid focusing too much on labels, mostly society imposed labels. They limit us. Thank you so much, such a great reflexion.

[@Nitrotix1]

Being bilingual and attending church mass in two different languages (same church, same religion) allowed me to see the differences between the two. It naturally forced me to question why this difference existed, when in some instances there should've been uniformity regardless of language. This, among other things, led me to question things that most others paid no attention to.

[@wilsonstone935]

I'd like more of your take on that, I've always wondered about that

[@wilsonstone935]

How different cultures (language influence) think differently

[@tilinapple]

Tower of babel

[@dennisechevarria8141]

I'm making a jump here by assuming you may be interested in linguistics and even esoteric philosophy, and I want to suggest a book to you named the Code to the Matrix, available online, written by James Bomar. It was profound for me because I realized there is a code to language and also the interesting phenomenon where language is a huge factor in shaping how cultures develop. I know that's obvious but a connection you may have not seen yet is that part in the bible referring to the tower of Babel and how it is perhaps symbolic of a time where language came into existence in the written form and somehow did divide us further, and a way to reconcile this confusion at least in our own consciousness could be to see and innerstand more of the codes in order to see how the game is being rigged. I'm more aware of the code in the English language and not others but do believe it's in all of them. Wholeness brother.

[@dennisechevarria8141]

@ jack stone, that comment was directed to you.

[@readingsbycara]

*Oh yes!* The _power and precision_ of words spoken, and the _intentional_ employ of words... for me, are undeniably and inextricably linked to reality and active creation... MIRACLES and MAGIC. ♥️

[@readingsbycara]

#staywell everyone. ♥️

[@gavinreid5387]

This is an aspect of Neuro Linguistic Programming.

[@insightbytes2136]

I have recently been diagnosed with Asperger's, and in my 40's looking back at all these failed friendships. I have come to realize, how utterly mis understood I have been!!! Words can have different meanings and effects of different people based on their past. For example one may grow up very poor and be very sensitive about it later in life... Another example I was telling someone about my legacy with my girls. And how important it is. He said well that's awfully self centered. I'm like no u don't understand what I mean. I mean I'm terms of what I have done to better myself and therefore generations to come. My lasting imprint in the reality. What I made a difference in. He took it more physical in nature. So now Im trying to relearn how to communicate to normal everyday people. Who frankly operate on a much more superficial level...

[@alekid]

As a bilingual myself I totally resonated with what you said. Very good point on the precision of verbs too.

[@luluverylulu]

Oh thank you, great point about multiple languages. Now I have another clue but rather on how my senses were so heightened and I was molded with an attitude about language that only cares about the actual meaning the person is attempting to portray (though obviously I can go-along with proper wording). If I say “my parents were teachers” it only means that’s how they met and that’s what they left with. My parents immigrated from the Netherlands, but banned the native language in the home as it was causing the kids trouble in school. By the time I came along (7th) it was the “secret” mysterious language they used to discuss private matters and enjoy relatives with. It was the language that kept me engaged with “sensing to understand” (which must be how we all learn a language to begin with). Thank you!

[@onealjones9039]

You are truly a gift. Thank you for the amazing content of your channel.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Thanks for the very kind words! Best wishes to you!

[@eanerickson998]

Having learned some French, it's interesting to hear you describe the verb "is" as "to be". This is the way I learned about the verb "etre" as "to be" instead of "etre" as "is". It's interesting how the subtlest changes in language can have such major effects on your perception of reality. I do believe that language constrains our thoughts and feelings into a physical form. On one hand, language is essential for precision and on the other hand, language creates a barrier for understanding your inner self

[@FoolishFishBooks]

'is' is the 3rd person singular present simple tense of the verb 'to be' which is the infinitive form of the verb, and therefore the form used to name it. I know this not because I'm French, but because I taught English as a foreign Language in Poland and in the UK for 6years at the beginning of my teaching career, before moving on to religious studies.

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

I have put this in my playlist to rewatch multiple times because it feels like one of those things that you can just continuously gain new insights from.

[@AatosStarfire]

I feel like my perception of reality has been transformed just by watching this video and taking a few notes. I can't wait to order Quantum Psychology. Thanks for this!

[@ileanamendez7583]

Excellent! This is a discussions I've had with other Spanish bilinguals & my daughter who also speaks French & Japanese. Multiple languages awaken the mind and relationships of all types, especially in the arts. I especially love reading bi-lingual poetry. Thank you. ❤️

[@DonovanWert]

I have been a magician with a c for the last 46 years. I have just recently started studying ritualistic Magic After stumbling upon your channel. I have bought many books I was referred by you and your reviews and also follow Damien Echols. It seems to be my new obsession just like my first started learning sleight of hand when I was a kid. I just want to thank you for all the hard work you do. So from the bottom of my heart thanks.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

So glad you've been finding my videos helpful! Best wishes to you! 😊🙏

[@jaybristowe2346]

Language does seem to be the programming language of the mind. I’m very interested in the idea that different peoples languages makes them think in different ways.

[@kimwelch4652]

If you want to see how language and thought really affect reality try Eduardo Kohn's "How Forests Think." There's also a good explanation for why entheogens work.

[@TwilightDawn369]

This is a great breakdown of words, as I truly believe in the power of words. I think you for pointing this out, I will definitely be reading this book. Awareness sometimes is all we need. As you spoke your examples, what had popped in my mind was divide. I am American. I am British. That would then make us different. But are we? We could go through a list of things that we have in common, however, we have already made that distinctive difference between us, that would we even go into what we have common after that is made? By these labels, and names of identification, the human being has created differences. When their really is no need for that, other then to create personal power out of identity. The more one is known for their identification, the more powerful they become. In my opinion, of course. I could be wrong. This is only my thoughts that came up as you pointed out these things with pen and paper. Another powerful tool for words. 😊

[@alinarumanaloca]

I am bilingual too or I am speaking and thinking in 2 languages too ( E-prime😀), Romanian and Spanish and years ago i was speaking French ... so, yeah, I agree that speaking more than one language is giving you a lot of agility of thought and makes you realise the impact it has on our lives, on our personalities and even in the way we relationship ourselves with the others. Ohhh, I'd like to say so many things, but I got the feeling that I won't be able to clearly express my thoughts because my English is not so good, so I leave it here 😊 Thanks again for all this work, Dennis ! 👏👏👏

[@andythedishwasher1117]

There are significant philosophical quagmires that emerge around the concept of identity in any language. This is why I think there has been so much controversy over E-Prime's utility. The basic premise of its practice seems to be that "being verbs" (those verbs which serve to point to the identity or state of the subject) carry with them an implication of certainty which is often inappropriate or misleading in many contexts. For example, the sentence "You are a Communist" could be used in McCarthy-era America to arbitrarily identify the subject "You" with a severely dangerous political identifier, "Communist". Regardless of this statement's accuracy, which thanks to the vagueness of the association can't really even be determined conclusively, this sentence served to connect many staunch American patriots' names with the concept of communism in the public mind. This would not have been nearly as simple if politicians were constrained to the use of E-Prime. Such vague associations would not find concise, compelling descriptors in E-Prime. The same concept would, by virtue of its vagueness, be far more unwieldy to express without the simple associating power of be verbs. McCarthy would have had to say something like "Your behavior seems to suggest that you hold communist beliefs." If this were the case, the accused would have a clear, logical opportunity to examine and dissect the assertion. If I were the accused, I could then ask "Precisely which of my behaviors have given you this impression?" at which point I could individually explain and describe the genuine motivations behind my various actions. Since none of these actions could be directly labeled as "Communist" in E-prime for the same reason I could not be directly accused, I could then effectively dispute the association of any of those actions with communism. In regular English, my first and most effective option is to simply deny the allegation, thus creating a counterbalance to the association. At that point, it is my word against McCarthy's and that is all the onlookers conceptualize as occurring. All the implications of the statements are hidden beneath the power dynamic between the two competing assertions. Be verbs breed conflict in this fashion, which is why I think E-Prime has the greatest utility in conflict resolution.

[@alexpwer3590]

P

[@hazedpurple4513]

The

[@whateversmurfette]

This is why I'm practicing Latin I LOVE THIS! I also compare the connotations, but English to German...🤭the theoretical photon, this is an exciting video, BRAVO!

[@Terminated666]

Thank you for this. I was not aware Robert Anton Wilson authored such book. I'll be ordering this right away!

[@Terminated666]

This reminds me of George Carlin's humorous attacks on language. The language we've all agreed on yet it conceals or confuses the truth.

[@junevandermark952]

From the book ... Language and the Discovery of Reality … Joseph Church … "People everywhere are quick to admit that their neighbors-the people in the next village, the next valley, the next nation-have a culture, in that they entertain some bizarre notions and engage in some outlandish practices; but our experience of reality is always just that-reality."

[@aromamargot]

Can I just say how appreciative I am of how particular you are about pronouncing foreign names the way they should be pronounced :) (not only the names of my fellow nationals but in general, something I have been noticing while watching your videos) This is by no means an easy task but you do really seem to care and it makes me respect you even more. On another note, another super insightful video, thank you! I will definitely read this book! (plus a thousand more you have recommended :))

[@eagleriver900]

The video title reminds me of "Science and Sanity:" An introduction to general semantics by Alfred Korsybski.. 1930's.. wonderful book, worth a look. Cheers.

[@casiethedragon2146]

I grew up bilingual and the two languages I am able to speak are very different in sentence structure and those biases you were referring to. I can certainly say that this gives me a better understanding of my surroundings and concepts that might have been difficult to grasp if I only spoke one language. I found it interesting how English refers to animals as "it", regardless of their gender. Where as Afrikaans (which I also speak fluently) refers to animals as "he" or "she", based on their gender. I have made a note to buy those books when my budget allows it 😁

[@dteun]

Cassie are you dutch descended?

[@matrix4003]

I just discovered your channel. Your style of teaching is fantastic. It was the first time I really understood the basics of the Kabbalah. Thank you so much.

[@theknave4415]

I came at this from a completely different direction. I studied memetics and just about everything that was even close to being related to the use of language, brain entrainment and brain plasticity - how and why we remember things, et al. Language controls us almost as much as our DNA. Perhaps, more. (e.g. Susan Blackmore's TED Talk - "Memes and Temes").

[@MrXlaim]

Reminds me of a realisation i had with the french word "grossier" . "Grossier" can mean rude but can also mean unprecise. Both meaning are linked because rudeness (WTF) can mark the shock of encountering smth for the first time, and this first time feels like a shock because the conceptualization of the first encounter lacks precision. I love seeing flaws in the words, and the one you showed in this video IS a big one :p. Thank you for making me aware that "to be" is too often used as an unprecised shortcut of the mind. P.S.: I admit it, i've had to make an effort to write this comment with as less as possible verb "to be" xD

[@MetaphysicalMusician]

RAW...Flipped my head inside out.. Brilliant Writer

[@BolshephobicBabe]

Haven't read the book, but have heard about this because I love RAW and PKD. Even if it doesn't change your worldview, I think it helps us understand conversation, and when someone doesn't understand a point, this comes in handy.

[@alfieheimr]

I also grew up bilingual, but in Spanish and English, and the issues that arise with "to be" in English (or "être" in French) are softened by the partition into "Ser" (to be something, ontologically) and "Estar" (to be somewhere, location or condition). So with your examples: "I am British" = "Yo soy británico" (verb Ser), "I am a teacher" = "Yo soy profesor" (again, Ser), "I am eating" = "Yo estoy cominedo" (verb Estar). Your "foreign" (from my perspective, mind you) intuition of the removal of the first two uses from everyday language corresponds perfectly in Spanish with removing the use of "Ser" (which is basically eliminating ontological propositions) and keeping the use of "Estar". Thank you so much for your videos, I love the work you do and share 😊

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Yes, this is absolutely spot on!

[@waynejohnson5360]

I am hungarian, my second language is english, i have been contemplating a lot how language affects how i see the world since many years. Comparing the two in my opinion hungarian is is excellent to describe anything to a precise detail in every word it can make sense what the word itself is, however i find the "atmoshpere" of it negative, painful, sour therefore the culture as well. English on the other hand, please don't get offended but to me it feels like it's just hogwash, the words don't have logic in itself, on the other hand i find it much more positive because of this, because to me it feels like it lacks the depth to express emotions in a way hungarian does subsconciously. A small example for 2 emotions: The word Hate - Hungarian: Gyűlölet - Hate kills The word Love - Szeretet - Szer- etet means love feeds. Because i have learning english since age 6, as i got access to the internet impatiance made me watch movies in english, i played games in english, now i watch youtube only in english since many years, i talk to friends who we have english as a common language since years as well, on a daily basis. I still live in hungary surrounded by my native language, yet for a long time now i noticed my thoughts are all in english even when i am not writing these lines sitting in front of a computer. However i still feel like no matter what i can't make my english thoughts make me feel the same emotions as hungarian does. Thus i can say things in english without "truly" meaning them and you made me realise that i forgot how to check what i am going to say in both languages to check if it's okay. Overall being bilingual kind of feels like a split personality in my case. I behave different in each not by much but enough to notice.

[@Kakukk321]

I'm hungarian aswell, I know what you're talking about. To me it feels like english words mean a lot at once, they encompass a more general concept or "feeling". But for this reason it also feels like they have a smaller "weight" to them. Hungarian is the opposite.

[@ljr6723]

What I like about English is its shameless capacity for borrowing from other languages yet it still has some very broad deficiencies, at least in the way that it is commonly used. This is one such area. Although I wonder sometimes about cause and effect in identity, particularly in the area of occupation. When asked who we are most of us respond reflexively by occupation. and most of us tend then to use that as a short-hand to make assessments of character, knowledge and political and/or religious ideology in other people. And worst of all, we take upon ourselves those generalizations and become that identity. I do know that in my 63 years, some of the most interesting and valuable conversations I have had have come from the least likely people, speaking of those broad occupational categories of identity, as well as most of the other identity categories of age, race, gender, etc. You may say I have been fortunate in my occupation that it has afforded me the opportunity to meet and speak with such a variety of people. I suppose, in a very practical sense, without knowing it as such, by times I have been able to use the tool of e-prime to expand my own knowledge and experience. Now I know what it is. I have identified it. There is a little irony there I think.

[@newtronix]

Yes this is massive rabbithole of linguistics from the idealism of Cassirer through the Semiotics of de Saussare and the nativism of Chomsky! Words don't seem to have any inherent value in one side yet we have an innate ability to form them on another! Maybe I'm a bit old fashioned but they seem to be a system of signs to me. And then one can go a step further into the structuralist and post structuralist philosophies of Sartre, Lacan all the way to Derrida and Deleuze. It's an endless warren of interesting ideas with no end (or beginning!)

[@pustacmato5031]

This is essentially communion with reality

[@dopebro2457]

Just found your channel, subbed after this video, you’re one of the few people who was able to stimulate me intellectually speaking.

[@ceciliakolas5677]

This is great, especially now when people must reclaim their minds. Many thanks. 🙇

[@astrodonunt]

I must read this book! Also, I think maybe the language Toki Pona could possibly be of interest to some here? The language is usable for just about anything, despite the fact that it has only around 130 words. There can still be this "is of identity" problem but in a lot of cases you have to get specific and ask what something is to you. A common example is, a friend is a jan pona or good person, so you can't have a "bad good person" or a bad friend because that's a contradiction. There's still the issue of course of "what IS a good person" but thinking of how to say things in the language means you have to think about what things "really" are on a more minute level a lot of the time.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

This sounds amazing! I'd never heard of it. Thank you for the education! 😊🙏

[@applebottom1977]

Yes I've only spoken English, but now I'm learning Spanish. Very interesting how I make connections with some of the word. For example sin in english means an immoral act against divine law vs in spanish sin means to be with out. Spanish is much older language than english so that version is much older.

[@youareivan]

it's kind of ironic that one of the best known korzybski quotes is "the map is not the territory." it's clear that he never intended to do away with "to be" entirely, but i feel like limiting it's use makes you take possession of your actions in an interesting way.

[@phoebe5863]

I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. People in modern times - as apposed to the vernacular I’ve been exposed to in movies and literature of other eras - use the word ‘like’ as a predominant piece of description in their vocabulary and because of this they no longer elaborate what it is they say, but rather use like to compare their idea to some form of an expression, usually one that is commonly known due to its popularity online, or just vague in nature, and not because they wish to hide, but simply because the thought was not fully formed. I find this frustrating because I often have to ask people to elaborate further as I don’t understand what it is they’re attempting to express. I use the word ‘attempt’ to imply that not much thought was put into it. Maybe this means people are less intelligent. If the part of the brain that determines precision of thought is weak from little use, then every thought, experience, every intake of information is more dependent on concepts and emotions to analyze reality rather than intellect. I think this may have something to do with why so many people believe they are awakening to spiritual, intuitive senses when in actuality they may have just been forced to rely on their ability to discern from emotional triggers rather than an intellectual analysis.

[@bobbybill4042]

I am only seeing this now. As an English teacher and student of languages, this, in my opinion, is a super interesting subject.

[@richardabbot8724]

E-prime is a mixed blessing. It enables the destruction of false identities, but unless that is matched with the discovery of a real identity then the results will be disastrous. For ‘real identity’ I am happy to substitute the words ‘meaning’ or ‘purpose’, because without those things humans can’t cope. See the current state of the world for evidence of this.

[@ramseydieter]

...just got here this is great! The verb to be is often a declaration not a description. It’s very Western. It forces you essentially to commit Thank you

[@ortegayecid]

Verb to be is a "static" verb whereas the others are action verbs. that is what is good to banish the verb to be so implies more like a flow...movement of the actions.

[@thewizard4200]

Now this video was nice, I agree with what said. I just want to add a little more by a mystic point of view: The verb "to be" should be used carefully from a magical or mystic point of view because it should be referred only to the true self or the noumenon in the nature of things. For example, I have a human body, I have a human mind, I have human emotions, but the real nature of my true self IS inconceivable; or we can say, this thing looks like a chair, this thing has the consistence of hard metal or looks like it has the consistence of wood, but the hidden nature (noumenon) of this thing IS inconceivable. Now of course this is not easy to do, and some time we need the verb "to be" even out of the context of conjugation, but training oneself in reasoning this way can deeply affect and grow the magical or mystical point of view on reality. Said this, a little consideration about language. I was born in Italy, I grew up there, and I live there, of course I speak Italian like my first language, but the search for knowledge lead me to learn english more and more. I find this language really fascinating for its capability of expressing complex concept with few words, I often find my self thinking in english because there are some words that would require a long desctription of some concept in Italian language; a nice exaple is the verb "to pretend", it has a lot of shade that can bring with itself a meaning that would require four of five words to express that exact shade of meaning in Italian.

[@carlalussini]

I was just thinking about this last night! How in english you don't separate between "ser" (to be a teacher; who you are) and "estar" (to be at the beach, or eating; we put happy here too! circumstantial/temporal). I agree that we all should loose the permanent/identity based form in casual talking; it's way to powerful to use willy nilly (is that the phrase? I've never actually used it before!) And should be reserved for meditation/manifestation/magik purposes only.

[@shintoketchup8860]

Robert Anton Wilson is one of my favorite Wilsons...he’s up there with Colin...

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Thanks for pointing me to Colin WIlson, somehow, he'd slipped through the gaps and I'd missed him. Looks amazing! :)

[@shintoketchup8860]

Foolish Fish Colin Wilson’s The Occult made it past censors (discerning and serious minded librarians) and onto library shelves where young people like myself, with an interest in the subject could find it...in the days before the internet.

[@theophiles75]

I have been studying General Semantics for over twenty years. I also enjoy Robert Anton Wilson's work. I did not know about this book.

[@jay-lm6gu]

This video is great. I can't wait to read Mr. WIlson's book. I will say, to the point of the occasional uselessness of the "be" verb, I have come to the same conclusions multiple times while attempting to interpret my English sentences into American Sign Language, which does not possess the verb and thus forces the signer to more specifically communicate their thoughts/intents. Really interesting, will be bingeing the rest of your videos.

[@palmereldritch_6669]

I'm bilingual spanish = English. If I need to remember an important number, or code, or name, or whatever, if I think about it consciously in the two languages my recall storage is much, much better. I'm not sure that words per se have much affect on reality (but they might), the DEFINITELY affect our perception of reality. They shape the story we create about reality, and affect our subconscious (and conscious) reactions to it. I have been working lately on being impeccable with the words I choose, and I can see that this has retrograde affected my thoughts and feelings.

[@DaoThao-ss7pc]

Interesting! My mother language is Vietnam. We only have “là” as “is/was/were/will” much more simplified.

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

5:24 I think removing the verb “to be” can also be used for “evil”… for example it would certainly be useful in gaslighting someone. The example “the car involved in the accident was blue” vrs “in memory I recall the car as blue.” So say you’re in an argument with your narcissistic mother about your experience of childhood abuse and you’re trying to tell her something related to a trauma you went through and she says, “I recall your childhood as a happy one.” Or a gaslighting spouse saying, “I recall things differently,” as a way to over-right your reality.

[@nyajuokforsure5157]

I was brought up speaking 3 languages, Arabic, English and Nuer. It was always weird to express some thoughts since they made sense in one but don’t in the other, especially colors. In Nuer we only had blue, green, yellow, red, black, white and grey. And to say a color like purple we had to say the 2 colors that it consisted of which is red and blue. But that still wasn’t the case with all colors because no one would understand you if you described pink because it isn’t part of the language used and what not. I know the video wasn’t wholly about language but it was all I could think of watching the video.

[@stevenolove]

You’ve got such a lovely voice and you put everything so simply and so eloquently. I could listen to you all day long

[@lotushippiechick]

thank you!!! found your channel while looking for reference on Jung's Red Book and am in awe with your videos...fascinated by books, history and esoteric studies...thank you again.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Ah! Nice 😁 I'm really glad you're enjoying the content! 👍

[@thegodofwar3744]

There is a book, Painless Grammar by Rebecca Elliot, and others centered for writers published more than two decades ago eludes to this calling it, the active/passive voice. Dropping the use of the verb 'to be' and replacing it with a more active voice demands and offers creativity and takes the dull and boring out of language. Especially in the case of writing.

[@nestor.valentino]

Imagine the power people who "feed" us content have over us. Imagine how much power you can have by using the right "spells" on people (i.e., using the right language / symbols to influence and "manipulate.") "Those who rule symbols, rule us." -Alfred Korzybski

[@MrThomaschapman]

Great video, it sounded to me very much similar to a grammar lesson learning Spanish from an English perspective. Spanish has 2 verbs ‘to be’; ser and estar. The difference being that one uses ‘ser’ to describe permanent, essential, unchanging qualities, and the other verb ‘estar’ to describe temporary, non-essential qualities. Though rarely used in English, the use of the subjunctive voice in other languages also offers the nuance between the speaker’s understanding of possibility and reality of certain situations. I often wonder what impact that has on our operating systems of language and its impact on our perspectives and beliefs. Thanks for making such an interesting video. I only discovered your channel by sheer chance as it was a KZbin suggestion...but very much appreciate your reviews for those of us who are novices in this area.

[@chadwalston28]

I absolutely agree with a few things you said here, and a couple things not quite as much, but I do see the points you were making. Back to the point of "I am a teacher" does not (in my opinion) have to correlate to present continuous nouns/adjectives. If your job is a teacher but you aren't currently teaching, that does not remove your title as a teacher. You just simply would not be assuming the powers of a teacher. When you step into the classroom and assume the role as a teacher, then "I am teaching" does indeed add a tense to the situation. The opinion I hold of the "to be" on the topic can stretch further then the "now" because if it couldn't then no plans ever could be made or followed. Of course this delves into a whole other topic of dimensionalism but that is another rabbit hole. But hey I could be entirely wrong so I leave it as an opinion. If I missed something then I'd love to discuss the topic further.

[@MantrinDharmananda]

This is how people in academia think and speak (those who developed critical thinking skills). You need to check your preconceived ideas and deliver your point precisely. In excess, it leads to excessively complex writing style and inability to deliver a message to a wider audience. And there are people who don't have to say much, so they wrap some simple ideas in a big pile of words and complex grammar to imitate this type of thinking.

[@tg4949]

Thanks for this. Very helpful to know the foundations of e-Prime in particular. Also I'd like to know your thoughts on gendering nouns and gender identity as it relates to e-Prime, as "I am a man/woman" to me means about as little as "I am British", it conveys only the impressions and stereotypes that the listener already holds. Modified slightly it may give more information ("I am a male nurse") but remains less helpful than "I am a nurse/teacher" as in your example. At least with "I am a teacher" there is some concrete behavior associated with the activity: you impart information to people who have less. Which you've done with this vid, so thank you for that!

[@HeathenDance]

"I am a table"... Priceless! Any Metallica fans out there will understand XD

[@QuaesitorDei]

I strongly believe what this book is saying. I read language and myth a few weeks ago. Very similar. Can't remember the author though.

[@jz2981]

Lanuage is a very beautiful and dynamic medium that we should not diminish yet it does slow the speed of thought down and until the day we become telepathic, I rather think we are stuck with it. But that's not a bad thing.

[@Freddy-Zamora-MX]

Awesome video! Have not read anything about the subject. E-Prime I mean... and Cogito Ergo Sum, René Descartes, indeed.

[@lauragarcia4037]

Words can destroy energy. Takes away from the true meanings of certain things. But...words are needed. Even as starting points of reference, that can be added or subtracted to.

[@josephgarcia7770]

I was going to make a suggestion but I’m stopping myself because it’s coming from a place of ego. Instead I’ll just say The Power of Now, Power vs Force, Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself. Three books that make up my personal bible. I don’t read them any more but they broke me free of many self limiting beliefs and behaviors I used to be trapped in. This book sounds interesting and along similar lines. One thing I should mention is that my beliefs and behaviors led me to prison for brutally violent actions. Now I have zero desire to engage in violence and love myself. I’m not perfect in the sense that I don’t make mistakes but I’ve come a long way. Hopefully those books will help someone reading this.

[@SRSR-pc8ti]

Have a look at the Rheomode as described in David Bohm's Wholeness and the Implicate Order.

[@EduardoCeballos953]

For what i understood it only affects the verb to be under certain circumstances. However in Spanish is easier to spot the difference as it can be "Ser" o "Estar", and for what i saw, it affects more for "Ser".

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Yes, this is definitely "ser", not "estar" 😊🙏

[@morefunnythenU]

This is one of the best videos I’ve ever scene

[@fairenough7984]

"Is" can be more definitive than would be appropriate in all cases. The word implies no other descriptive(s) to illustrate a situation, place, circumstance, etc. Great topic for consideration!

[@PhilDrury]

Precise language is essential in magick. And a lot harder than it looks, especially with the English laguage. An example being people who use the words "stop the war" in a magickal operation when they fear a conflict is imminent. What they should be saying is "prevent the war" as in order to stop the war it must first begin.

[@franklottar]

"The map is not the territory" Alfred Korzybski. There are those who believe there are only maps and maps of maps and no territory at all. If there was not an ultimate reality all our quests would be in vain.

[@janed5197]

You are teaching us... Have you noticed that putting “ish” after any verb is popular nowadays ish

[@taoist32]

Ish has been popular since the 80’s.

[@Georgeos777]

language in general is literally like the dream state, its not real(i know dream state has his reality but in terms of explanation..), its only a not really good tool we use and we kill each other for things that dont exist in reality. The buddha told us reality, look at a table, its empty of table, table is only a word we use for such forms but there is no thing table, it has no indipendent nature, but language plays as it has, the table is wood, is maybe glue, paint, screws, energy/work of people, the sun which make the wood grow, the air which had carbon dioxid, minerals.....its an unending chain of "things" but no table, if we go deep enough we see literal with the mind that everything is connected, that there is only one thing which appears as many through the mind, the mind cuts and seperates and language is his expression, but all this is artificial not real

[@philiproy189]

Fantastic video. The message behind eprime is very similar to the first tenet of Marshall Rosenburg's Nonviolent Communication. And I sincerely believe the world would be fundamentally better if all people understood and applied it: Separate your observations from your evaluations.

[@kobalt77]

Damn it, another book I will have to buy now !! LOL................... Another very helpful video Denis, thank you !

[@FoolishFishBooks]

You're going to love Robert ANton Wilson! (assuming that's the book you're mentioning, this is a pretty old video!)

[@kobalt77]

@@FoolishFishBooks Yes Denis, that is the book I was referring to . I have never read any of his books, but 2 or 3 years ago I listened to some of his lectures from podcasts or youtube and he blew my mind. I need to create a Servitor to read the seemingly endless list of books I want to read, and the pile of unread ones in my house LOL. Not enough hours in the day any more. I used to read so much more before the Internet came along, funny that. 😜🙏

[@JasonJrake]

Interesting idea, thanks for sharing. I’ve encountered and found use in a similar idea with a less fancy name. It’s called “the fallacy of simple definition.” Choosing words that incorporate the bias of perspective, as you seem to end up doing with E-prime, helps leave flexibility for how your concepts actually fit together in your head and in the exterior world. You might enjoy the work of Fernando Flores, who breaks all communication into Requests, Promises, Assertions, and Declarations. I’m a rookie at the schools of magic you speak about, but it sounds like they are arriving at the same kinda of distinctions, just from different starting places.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Fernando Flores the Chilean engineer/politician? Can you point me to some sources?

[@JasonJrake]

Foolish Fish that’s him, but I cannot find a good book or website.... I learned his stuff through an NLP teacher. That teacher’s best book on inter- and intra-personal communication is “Thinking Clearly: an Adventure in Mental Fitness.” It’s worth the purchase either way, but I will find my copy and let you know if it has Mr. Flores’ stuff specifically. If not I will keep my eyed open for a good link. You can also sometimes find it used by its self published title, “Cognitive Harmony.” I own both and there’s no difference beside the title.

[@oldpondfrog788]

Another great and instructive video. I have been contemplating my use of definitive statements and such that continue past patterns into the present and beyond a lot recently. I shall find this useful. 🤔

[@Pneumanon]

Hmm... this is how I already think & speak. I've never even heard of E-Prime before.

[@ethanfields1444]

Henry is happy now. It invites the question Why is he happy. Because of the music he's listening to. Some languages have something called evidentials which are used to explain how the speakers knows what they're saying. It's baked into the grammar. I feel like English is missing out.

[@tuttmasterc]

Is it to remove actualities as in like quanum mechanics where there is more than one outcome so by not locking yourself into a position in a sentence you are not conforming yourself that to that one point, there are multiple options for different uses and scenarios, so that there is no pre determined outcome? Nothing is definite you are what you create out of each scenario so to speak?

[@ZealousEZRA]

I am Love I am Peace I am Truth I am Understanding I am intelligence I am Expansion

[@kevinw290]

Amazing, and some food for thought. Another book added to my wish list.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Ah! So glad you liked it! 😊🙏

[@outoftheforest7652]

the sad thing is that language (especially English) is devolving... we are understanding ourselves less and division is growing because we do not know how to communicate or reason properly with others.

[@cognitivedissonancecamp6326]

I’ve read RAW’s looser stuff, looks like this is solid gold.

[@infertilepiggy5667]

im very interested in this, you should take a look at C.S.S.C.P.S.G, or :Russell-Jay: Gould, or :War-Castles this is very similar in concept but a bit different in execution

[@addj7093]

Language effects your nervous system 👍🏻

[@AS-xx9ew]

Japanese forces this to an extent, in that when you are describing others or things which you cannot be absolutely sure of you have to use a different grammar construction which is closely translated to "it seems to be the case / it appears to be that"

[@dopebro2457]

Thank you for proving information I can use to challenge my fellow peers intellectually:)