Logographic semantics

From the Greek word logos, commonly translated as word in English. Giving rise to a phrase, which here signifies communicative human meaning through the use of letters formed into words.

We may now continue with our discussion of meaning extraction (far, far below) since herself has been up and ready peachy-keen since the ungodly hour of 7.30, suitably attired on the top half of my body at least for the online meeting with the English tutoring agency in Korea. Which meeting did not happen. Grrrr. But firstly, must catch up on what I have been doing... well, I mean, I do know what has been going on (I think), but I have been scolded for being invisible and mute. Although, if anyone has been around me, I have not been silent or mute as there has been a whole lotta coughing going on. And whininess renders most invisibility attempts quite futile.

Last week was just lovely. Well, it really wasn't so ugly or anything, just a lot of potentially negative events. But as Judith always says, one makes a decision whether to be cheerful or not. (Boy, is it a good thing I went to meditation last week.) So things were mostly cheerful, in a kind of phlegmy, medicine-induced way. To re-cap: smashed big toe Tues night (it is probably not broken as I am able to walk without excrutiating pain -- hoorah. although it is an a shocking blend of blacks and blues.).

Wednesday: prepared for Thursday seminars, toodled online for further economic sustenance, etc., made slight note of fact that lungs seemed to be tightening in manner prophetic of illness (probably due to the fact that Wednesday was the third day in a row that the property 'management' people sent someone -- a new person each day -- around to flap up corner carpet in my room to inspect the ruined floor underneath, causing mold spores to zoom around in a frenzied manner and at great speed, before making the enlightening proclamation, 'Wow. This floor is totally gone. Completely rotten and soaking. Pretty big hole. This has to be replaced... Can you leave town for a few days?' ummm. yeah. uh-huh. Are we on instant re-play? Let me pack up and leave for you, shall I? idiots.).

Thursday: 'Awoke' (because really didn't sleep much due to periodic cessation of breathing capability) to prepare for class and discovered complete lack of voice. Oooh! Prime example of the need for language when have none, except of course written... And these seminar groups were disappointingly not nearly as Chatty McChatterton as Week 1 kids were, so I rasped away at them for the majority of both 50 minute sessions, receiving many blank looks in response to inquiry such as, 'What are some differences between human and animal communication?' *grunt* Returned home and wallowed in a self-pity pool of Hall's cough drops, while housemates planned barriers of tubercular quarantine (not really. they were very very sweet.).

Friday: the pool of Hall's is getting low... They do not sell anti-biotic healing ointment in this country at the pharmacy. Antibiotic thingys (not the chemist's word) are only available from your GP. The closest thing you can get is an antiseptic cream... well, the foot hasn't fallen off yet, so I guess this is a good sign that antiseptic cream works... Went to fruiterers to purchase lemons for tea, due to Vitamin C need, fell victim to 'Peaches! 5 for a pound!' These were the worst peaches I have ever tasted. Not only hard as the floor, but as tasty as cardboard. There is still one in my cabinet and I think it will never ripen. Perhaps it should go out in the hedgehog baiting area --
Steffi and I are attempting to lure hedgehogs into our garden. I have never seen one (except for Mrs. Tiggywinkle), but they are apparently terrifically cute and make smacking noises when they eat. There is even a Cardiff Hedgehog Helpline!

The Weekend: due to return of E from water slide holiday in Turkey, was no longer forced to whine without audience. Also, had lovely food, which would have been 10 times better had I actually been able to taste it normally, instead of with slightly metallic sensation in mouth. Had very entertaining outing to The Pumping Station Interiors and Antiques on Sunday, which was first outing in a couple of days. Snuffled way through, but I persevered and looked at almost everything! This is a refurbished sewage pumping station that is now a rabbit warren of an antique shop -- Hoorah for old stuff that people don't want! Everyone should be very proud at my self-control, since E managed to extract me sans a single purchase. Additionally, to add to the comic series of days, my computer seems to have renamed itself and now refuses to recognise me as ME (again, I feel my use of language to blame the inanimate object has been rather successful). Everything will be fiiiiiiine, though -- it is good to know smart computer people and also to have a rapport with the IT people at one's home institution, so that they will give one super secret admin passwords. In the interval, using another computer, so the keys are in slightly different places, causing a few typos -- notices of these may be pointed out in comments. I will accept mockery. But only for a short time.

Now, class... Am taking chance that the mama will be able to find the humour in the following example of language :)

If one takes the signage to left (which has been examined prior to publication by myself and other credible persons for photoshopping evidence, with a judgement that this is real), one is able to glean at least two discreet pieces of communication from the arrangement of logos, or words, into statements, or sentences of sorts. The sign indicates that Northampton General Hospital does, in fact, have a facility for providing planning information to families (a topic for socio-cultural discussion here would be, 'What is a family?'). The second (or third, depending on the process of verbal deconstruction selected) information chunk tells the reader one of two things, the first one being the location of entrance to said office of family planning. As a class, perhaps in small groups, you may discuss possible secondary meaning(s).

Thank you for your attention. I think we have all learned something here today.

Note of interest: Dawny has entered the therapy world of the blog...
And there was much rejoicing. yaaay.