“The baby understands that its mother loves it. [...] Words have their origin in baby talk, so words have their origin in love.”
Analysis of Quote by Yasunari Kawabata:
Yasunari Kawabata's quote emphasizes the deep connection between language and love. By suggesting that words have their origin in baby talk, he implies that the foundation of communication is rooted in the purest form of love and affection. This highlights the significance of emotional expression and understanding in human language. In essence, Kawabata's quote underscores the fundamental role of love in the development of language and the importance of emotional connections in human communication.
Exploring the Power of Language and Love
In this quote by Yasunari Kawabata, the renowned Japanese author emphasizes the deep connection between words and love. By emphasizing the importance of love and infant communication, Kawabata highlights the fundamental role that emotions play in shaping our language and relationships. This concept holds modern relevance as it encourages us to reflect on the profound impact of love on our ability to communicate effectively and cultivate meaningful connections in our lives.
Yasunari Kawabata on Words and Love
"The baby understands that its mother loves it. [...] Words have their origin in baby talk, so words have their origin in love.” - Yasunari Kawabata"
Reflection Questions
Yasunari Kawabata's quote suggests that language and communication are rooted in love and emotional connection. This concept raises important questions about the nature of language and its relationship to human relationships. Consider the following reflection questions:
- How do you think love and emotional connection shape our ability to communicate with others?
- In what ways does our early experience of love and caregiving affect our language development?
- Can words truly capture the depth of our emotions and relationships, or do they always fall short?
- How might understanding the connection between language and love impact the way we communicate and relate to others in our daily lives?
- Do you believe that the origin of language in love has implications for how we understand and experience relationships between parents and children, friends, romantic partners, and other loved ones?
Similar quotes
“ I think of the chimp, the one with the talking hands. In the course of the experiment, that chimp had a baby. Imagine how her trainers must have thrilled when the mother, without prompting, began to sign her newborn. Baby, drink milk. Baby, play ball. And when the baby died, the mother stood over the body, her wrinkled hands moving with animal grace, forming again and again the words: Baby, come hug, Baby come hug, fluent now in the language of grief.”
“Listen baby, Muver love you. Muver not dumb. Listen baby: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ.Thas the alphabet. Twenty- six letters in all. Them letters make up words. Them words everything.”
“We have to restore the meaning of the word 'love.' We have been using it in a careless way. When we say, 'I love hamburgers,' we are not talking about love. We are talking about our appetite, our desire for hamburgers. We should not dramatize our speech and misuse words like that. We make words like 'love' sick that way. We have to make an effort to heal our language by using words carefully. the word 'love' is a beautiful word. We have to restore its meaning (31).”
“Love, my child, is a thing that every mother learns; it is not born with a baby, but made; and for eleven years, I have learned to love you as my son.”
“What do you think was the first sound to become a word, a meaning?...I imagined two people without words, unable to speak to each other. I imagined the need: The color of the sky that meant 'storm.' The smell of fire taht meant 'Flee.' The sound of a tiger about to pounce. Who would worry about these things?And then I realized what the first word must have been: ma, the sound of a baby smacking its lips in search of her mother's breast. For a long time, that was the only word the baby needed. Ma, ma, ma. Then the mother decided that was her name and she began to speak, too. She taught the baby to be careful: sky, fire, tiger. A mother is always the beginning. She is how things begin.”