Illegal Chinese Restaurant

Dinner tonight in an "illegal" Chinese restaurant, known only to those who are . . . in the know. Disguised as a simple Chinese Take-Away (take-out for the yanks), but with a hidden dining room only accessed by going through the kitchen and down a flight of stairs. Very exclusive (ahem hem hem). The food was amazing and I ate far too much. Conversation was good as well, mostly about the food though occasionally veering towards topics like "city planning," "architecture in Tokyo," and "the institution of marriage."

Prior to dinner there was a sort of exhausting conversation held between 20 people and two languages. Conversing between languages is a task. Got me thinking about communication possibilities in the absence of language. It is clear that there are certain images and symbols that are somewhat universal, like those used in directional signage, and these symbols are generally used to communicate very simple concepts (Stop, Do Not Enter, Watch for People Crossing the Road, etc.). So my thought was this: Is there a way to communicate complex ideas across cultural and language barriers using universally understood symbols? Maybe not . . . I find it a very interesting question to mull over. It would remove all the idiosyncrasies of language, those bits that develop in accordance with the mores and values of the culture in which the language developed. To be universally understood . . . is it possible? Is it even desirable? It's just the seed of an idea, but I expect some heavy experimentation is in order directly.


And now, for your enjoyment, a transcript of the notes I took during this evening's meeting:

Network outside network -- have we improved anything, or just . . .

Q. Why do we want to work with other people?
A. so i don't go mad.

"ecology of the institution" is john henry sleeping?

the limitations of verbal communication, esp. across cultures, language -------- [and then my pen died]
[and then i borrowed a pen from ella]
communication w/o language

Not -- what information does not translate
but
what information does not NEED translation?
is there a way to use simple symbols, childish, to explore complex ideas?

and what
about the
points where
we all go
MAD?
Communication
(or a lack thereof)

INSTITUTION
(some words are the same in most languages. all languages?)

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? (said jana to her ill-chosen lover)
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
COME AGAIN?
PARDON? communication between
EXCUSE ME? colleagues, Lovers,
CAN YOU CLARIFY? Friends, Strangers.
WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY?
I DON'T GET IT I DON'T GET YOU I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

[and then i turned the page over]

-Research which words are the most universal-
(Academy? Institution? University?)
collectives - what about Newsreel?

Visual Communication
I can communicate to you, but you
cannot communicate to me. Yet
|
|
\/
System of symbols
UNIVERSAL . . .
IMPOSSIBLE?