Words have traditionally been the backbone of
intelligent communications. Some researchers suggest that humans began using
spoken words, anywhere between 50000 and 70000 years ago. Words then were often
just a collation of sounds, but they seemed to have served their purpose. How
they managed their communications in their worlds so long ago can only be
imagined!
Today, in the second millennium of the common era, as
per Ethnologue, which is a language catalogue and resource site, there are
around 7111 languages in the world (not including dialects, sign languages)
with an estimated 840 million words.
And with such a surfeit of languages and words, our
world should naturally (if not certainly!) be a very interesting one for those
of us who will only take some time from our busy routines, to peek into the
world of words.
This time, the random
word that has surfaced is MASTERPIECE.
One may wonder if a word that can universally evoke a
sense of awe and admiration must necessarily be a piece of a masterly
work only in literature and the fine arts.
‘Not necessarily!’, would be the response of hundreds
of connoisseurs of extraordinary works of art such as paintings, sculptures,
music, dance and other endeavors of human passion. They would happily engage in
endless debates as to what they would consider as a masterpiece.
But what or who exactly defines a masterpiece? Will
the international space station that has been orbiting this planet for over 25
years be considered as one, now that it is getting outdates and will be
decommissioned in 2030!
A thing of beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder,
they say.
It is my considered view that a masterpiece can be
found in the most unusual places, if only one makes an open-minded effort to
look for it.
A masterpiece can also be something that has to do
with just an idea that has been creatively expressed across many mediums and
over a lengthy period. Take for example the following sequence of words:
Moustache; Argument; Simple; Taste; Exact; Rest; Part; Interest; Excess; Cheese; Elementary
Yes, evidently there is a masterpiece in them. But why
do these words really matter when we are discussing a masterpiece?
Let me help by drawing your attention to the fact that
these are the random monthly words that featured in ‘The World Through
Words’!
Call it a clever coincidence. Accuse me of cheating
about the randomness bit. But the words were indeed random, even if their first
letters were not, I confess! Even if you end up considering my defense as weak,
wouldn’t you still agree with me that it is certainly a masterpiece of planning
a blog post.
Wishing you all a great last month in 2025. You have been very encouraging, and I promise to come up with a new series of posts for 2026.
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