<div>THE WORLD OF WORDS
I.J. Singh
Sometimes, ordinary words acquire extraordinary meanings.
In earlier essays I have explored how specific words in the Guru Granth, challenge us, and how their meanings are subject to context, time, culture and usage.
I got in this mode of thinking because I have run into many devout Sikh who, like many Christians, look at their respective spiritual writings as literally etched in stone. Even a hint that the same word may have a less literal application and a more metaphoric sense in a particular usage raises hackles. In parsing words the context is all important; and for suggesting this I have, sometimes, run into unexpected flak.
In response I have often pointed to two words to make my point:
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I.J. Singh
Sometimes, ordinary words acquire extraordinary meanings.
In earlier essays I have explored how specific words in the Guru Granth, challenge us, and how their meanings are subject to context, time, culture and usage.
I got in this mode of thinking because I have run into many devout Sikh who, like many Christians, look at their respective spiritual writings as literally etched in stone. Even a hint that the same word may have a less literal application and a more metaphoric sense in a particular usage raises hackles. In parsing words the context is all important; and for suggesting this I have, sometimes, run into unexpected flak.
In response I have often pointed to two words to make my point:
More...