Endre Rozsda - La tour de Babel (1958)
1
The Library of Babel seems infinite though it is finite.
The Library contains a single reference to all possible combinations of characters within the range of valid characters and within a maximum length.
These settings may differ per Library, creating the potential for infinite iterations of Libraries of Babel.
Different settings change the nature of the Library.
As the number of valid characters per expression increases, so does the size and complexity.
As the maximum length of an expression increases, so does the size and complexity.
2
Each expression of valid characters under the maximum length is called a Babel.
Each Babel may be interpreted in infinite ways.
3
Each of these interpretations belongs to a local language.
Local languages spontaneously arise from individuals and subcultures.
There is no limitation to the number of local languages that can emerge.
Local languages come in two forms, personal languages (individuals), and assembly languages (subcultures).
The language of English is made up of incalculable local languages.
Every individual speaker of English has a unique personal language.
A personal language is the internal language of an individual made from the definitions and values they create over time.
Once an individual joins a subculture, they begin to integrate the emergent assembly language of the subculture into their personal language and vice versa.
Individuals who participate in subcultures are the best at understanding the assembly language of the subculture because they keep up with the nuances of the language’s evolution.
4
Snooplionean, Muskean, Nietzchean, Landean, Petersonean, Yarvinean, and Wittgensteinian are all examples of personal languages of individuals.
Miladyean, Californian, Ohioan, Democratic, Republican, Christian, Catholic, Wokian, Elitian, Capitalistic, Rationalistic, Reactionarian, Post-modernistic, Techno-optimistic, NYTean, and Fox Newsean are all examples of assembly languages created by subcultures.
5
To share understanding with a person, you must effectively navigate their personal language.
Good communicators can pick up local languages quickly, allowing them to communicate with interlocutors without disrupting their environment.
Twitter is the antithesis of this idea.
The high frequency of failure to speak the same local languages means most disagreements are actually misunderstandings.
Misunderstandings are expressed as conflicts blocking progress which is dependent on understanding.
Increasing the human capacity to translate between local languages will reduce misunderstanding.
Reducing misunderstandings will improve the state of most of the world’s conflicts.