Language Is a Virus
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| "'''Language is a virus from outer space'''" is [[William S. Burroughs]]'s most famous [[maxim]]. Performance artist [[Laurie Anderson]] added in 1986, "That's why I'd rather hear your name than see your face." | "'''Language is a virus from outer space'''" is [[William S. Burroughs]]'s most famous [[maxim]]. Performance artist [[Laurie Anderson]] added in 1986, "That's why I'd rather hear your name than see your face." | ||
| - | :"In 1980, I wrote a song for William Burroughs called 'Language Is a Virus.' This was quote from one of Burroughs' books. It's a strange thing for a writer to say that language is a disease communicable by mouth. It's also a very Buddhist thing to say. I mean, in Buddhist thought there's the thing and there's the name for the thing and that's one thing too many. Because sometimes when you say a word, you think that you actually understand it. In fact, all you're doing is saying it, you don't necessarily understand it at all. So language, well, it's a kind of trick." | + | :"In 1980, I wrote a song for William Burroughs called 'Language Is a Virus.' This was a quote from one of Burroughs' books. It's a strange thing for a writer to say that language is a disease communicable by mouth. It's also a very Buddhist thing to say. I mean, in Buddhist thought there's the thing and there's the name for the thing and that's one thing too many. Because sometimes when you say a word, you think that you actually understand it. In fact, all you're doing is saying it, you don't necessarily understand it at all. So language, well, it's a kind of trick." |
| - Laurie Anderson, "Laurie Anderson,", page 99. | - Laurie Anderson, "Laurie Anderson,", page 99. | ||
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"Language is a virus from outer space" is William S. Burroughs's most famous maxim. Performance artist Laurie Anderson added in 1986, "That's why I'd rather hear your name than see your face."
- "In 1980, I wrote a song for William Burroughs called 'Language Is a Virus.' This was a quote from one of Burroughs' books. It's a strange thing for a writer to say that language is a disease communicable by mouth. It's also a very Buddhist thing to say. I mean, in Buddhist thought there's the thing and there's the name for the thing and that's one thing too many. Because sometimes when you say a word, you think that you actually understand it. In fact, all you're doing is saying it, you don't necessarily understand it at all. So language, well, it's a kind of trick."
- Laurie Anderson, "Laurie Anderson,", page 99.
See also
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