2.5.3 expression of language, 1.5.3 biopsychology

Q: It has been said that language sounds are derived from the tonal vibrations of the vrttis, which would make fifty basic sounds in all - as in Sanskrit. But are there not sounds used in other languages which are outside this basic set of fifty sounds? What is the nature of their origin?

This is a very good question, but it is based on a misunderstanding. There are 50 sounds, but in each sound there are many subcategories of sounds. So it is not limited to 50 sounds. For example, within a certain tonal frequency (these tonal frequencies are very subtle; they are not physical sounds, they are subtle sounds), within a given tonal frequency, many different variations can be made. And when the different tonal frequencies are combined, many variations can also be made. So if you take the sound "ta", and you combine it with the sound "ka", you have "tka". [Transcriber note: It was difficult to hear what sounds were actually being made.] If you take the sound "ss", and you combine it with the sound "aa", you get "sa". So many combination sounds can be made; many tonal frequencies may be combined to make combined tonal sounds. Also, within a certain frequency, there may be very subtle differentiations of sound. So for one it may be "ka" and for another it may be "kaa". It is a little different, so this frequency of sound will be different.

There may be a subtle variation of tones and there then may be some combining of tones, but the waves upon which they are formed will be within the spectrum of human experience. And human manifestation which will be based upon the tonal frequencies which compose human existence.

Q: If language sounds imitate the tonal qualities of the vrttis, do languages which have a predominance of certain tonal qualities - for example, the vowel predominate Polynesian languages - tend to affect the development of consciousness accordingly? Looked at another way, is the sound of a language to some extent the product of characteristic features of the particular collective psychology of a people?

The language develops the thinking of the people, and it also confines the thinking of the people. So language may be an asset and it may be a hindrance. Let us say a person begins to explore the universe in a certain way and begins to discover conceptualizations which are not present in their language. Let us say the person is from the tropics and they have one word for snow. They go exploring to a northern country and they discover they are in a blizzard, then there is a light soft snow, then they are in a hard icy snow. They cannot express these things because they have no language. They will begin to create words, create formations of language, which will allow them to express these concepts.

Likewise, if a human being is prone to emotionality and they live in a culture where language has developed a highly emotional flavor, where certain propensities which bring emotive function out are dominant in the expression of the language, then the person will be influenced. A biological influence of certain genetic characteristics which will predispose a person to emotionality develops, and then language reinforces this biological predisposition.

But then let us say a person comes along that does not have this biological predisposition, yet they learn the language of the people who are biologically predisposed in this fashion. They will get activation of certain propensities due to language, but the activation will be less because the genetics are not there. In fact, they may begin to create certain new patterns in the language to express their disposition. Likewise others like them, if they become more and more dominant, will alter the language. So, in this way, language responds to genetics and expressions respond to language. So what is expressed in a given culture may be confined by language, but only to a degree. It will break outside of the language when a force builds to a certain momentum in the culture. What is expressed will break outside of the language and form new expressions of language in order that new patterns may manifest. Like this, it is a dynamic process, a dynamic interaction between genetics, language and environment.

You may find a people that are very peaceful, that do not war. They like to lounge in the sun and enjoy the environment. You will find those people have grown in an environment which is very amiable, very pleasant, and requires very little struggle. The environment is very kind to them, and so they have become a very warm and peaceful people. Their language expresses these sentiments. Certain vrttis are culturally dominant and are expressed in the intonations of the language. If a very fierce and angry individual is born into that place, they will be very frustrated that they do not have language to express their feelings. So they may go outside of the norm and begin to make sounds and form words unheard before in the language to express their feelings. If there are others like themselves, they will take up the words and the language will adapt. But if there are very few like them, then it will not be taken up and the language will not adapt; it will stay with the main experience of the people, both genetically and environmentally.

Now in another society, the weather is very harsh, the people have fought for their existence, and they have become warlike towards all, feeling that they must hold on for dear life against the elements, against their neighbors, against everyone. These people will develop a different type of language. It will have different sounds and will have different intonations. These intonations will express the vrttis which are dominant in the culture, that have been honed by the harsh environment and have been genetically adapted by the people. So let us say the environment changes; it becomes very pleasant and there is no longer the need for fierceness. Then the people will adapt their approach, having no need to be so warlike. They will discover other more pleasant feelings and begin to emphasize the words for those pleasant feelings. Those words will grow, and genetically over time the people themselves will alter also.

There is a time in the world which is coming soon - which has already begun - when all of these different cultures will begin to mix and mingle. The strengths and weaknesses of each are being brought together. In this case, a commonalty of language becomes essential, and in that commonalty of language you will find adaptations to the different people. You will find the language broadening both in the types of feelings and experiences that are expressed. There will be more special categories within the language, such as scientific language, religious language, daily language. Language will become very sophisticated, with many categories within the language to express all of the different dimensions of thought and experience within the people. In a truly sophisticated language there will be many dimensions. English has become adapted in this way, so you will find that though English is spoken in many parts of the world. There are differences in how it is spoken, in the intonations and in the adaptations. It will blend with the languages of the people and change accordingly.

So there is influence of culture, environment and genetics on the development of language, and influence of language on human expression. Spiritual expression and development may be hindered by the conceptual and tonal expressions normally available within the language. You will find that certain tonal vibrations often communicated through music enhance the development and rise of the kula kundalini. Because of their subtle form, they will facilitate the stirring of subtle tones and the raising of the energy. When they are absent altogether in a given language, and there are no sounds to produce them, it indicates two things: one, this experience is void in that culture, and two, it will be difficult to induce in that place unless other influences are brought in or new expressions developed.

[added comment]

These are very good questions on language. Language is important to discuss because it is such a dominating factor in the range of human thought and human experience. Without language to form experience, it is very hard to fully cognize that experience. You recall it is said that self-reflection is the fundamental birthright of a human being, the fundamental definition of humanity. So for this self-reflection you must have the language to form the self-reflective thought.