In the face of our current crisis of meaning, many have looked for answers in theology, philosophy, education, even politics. But what if the current crisis we are suffering under is really a crisis of language—one that reaches far beyond concern about the USES of language and instead revolves around the very nature and purpose of language itself?

The modern understanding of language considers words and meaning to be arbitrarily assigned and valueless in themselves. We are told that the value or danger of words comes from the use of those words. We use words to persuade, convince, advertise, argue, control, and manipulate. We ultimately believe that words give us power over other people, and in that power lies the true value of language. It is not words that have power, we believe, but the humans who wield them.

But, thinkers from Plato to the Inklings have argued for a much different and much deeper understanding of language. What if the real power of words comes from somewhere outside of us?

Words matter because in the beginning was the Word.

Join Angelina Stanford, Thomas Banks, Dr. Anne Phillips, Jenn Rogers, and Philologist Dr. Michael Drout as they explore different aspects of the question, "Why do words matter?"

Schedule

Wednesday, April 23rd at 7:00 PM ET: Dr. Michael Drout

Talk Title TBA

Thursday, April 24th at 7:00 PM ET: Angelina Stanford

The Abolition of Language and the Descent into Tyranny: Why Words Matter

Friday, April 25th at 7:00 PM ET: Dr. Anne Phillips

Undead Languages: Latin and Greek in the Language Wars

Saturday, April 26th at 12:00 PM ET (Session 1): Thomas Banks

Luminous Noses and Calico Pies: On Nonsense Poetry And Linguistic Fantasy

Saturday, April 26th at 2:30 PM ET (Session 2): Jenn Rogers, M.A.

Word Games: A Poet and a Mathematician Play in the Tradition