Language, names and stories will keep us alive

Figure 1: What's your story? 

When people think of language, it is surprising to see how many automatically just think of it as something that differs between culture; a type of dialogue simply. Many do not stop to consider the power of language, and how it can be used to transform a space into place, evening by simply giving something a name. The power of language does not stop there however, as it was brought up in this weeks lecture, the use of language and the emotional value by a person is able to create a place and keep it alive, even after it may be gone/no longer visible. For an example, I wish to use a person experience from the current on campus college I reside at (and have been analysing), Western Courts. Western Courts residents became fearful earlier this year as we face the news that our beloved college may be shutting down and be gone for good. The place we called home would no longer be visible to us if the plans went through, but through language, we would still be able to keep our college alive. As Tuan (1991, p.689) mentions that naming a space immediately evokes a sense of place, but will fade from consciousness if it is not kept alive by social support. Further, he continues “[a place] will continue to exist in people’s minds…[and will] seem more real if not only the name is used but stories, continuingly elaborate, are told.” (Tuan, 1991, p.689). In reference to the network this blog has been following, it goes to say that, even if Western were to close, if former residents continue to tell stories of their time here (even if they spin a tall tales in here), continue to mention the name, the place will stay alive, although it may no longer be visible. The emotional value residents place on that place will continue to keep it alive, even if it does go.  

References:

History of Western Courts - JCU Australia. Jcu.edu.au. Retrieved 25 August 2016, from https://www.jcu.edu.au/jcu-halls/about-us/our-halls/western-courts/history-of-western-courts

Kuttainen, V. (2016).BA1002: Our space: Networks, narratives and the making of place, lecture 5: Stories of Place: Story Lines  [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.edu.au 

Tuan, Y. (1991). Language and the Making of Place: A Narrative- Descriptive Approach. University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 

What's your story?. (2016). Retrieved from http://theransomchurch.org/phill/whats-your-story-2/