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Chit-Chat/Glancing contact
I was having a casual conversation in chat and I was really wondering what was the point of the conversation, but it really hit in a way differently than it normally does (this previous point is very common.)
It just seemed like through the process of chit-chatting we were branching off related thoughts. It was enjoyable, but almost like an exercise of language and connections. “Here is a topic” “Here is another topic somewhat related” “Here is a moment in my life related to that topic”. I think we wanted to talk to one another. I was curious what was directing the conversation like rel:V Formation.
Rhyme Exchange
The night before, I had watched these improvisational singers meeting up in NYC. The performer will walk around the city, which then becomes the subject of his songs like rel:Found Poetry. The woman’s red shirt becomes part of the song, a passing siren becomes part of the soundscape and the Lyrics.
rel:Echo Poem
At one point another freestyler becomes part of the song. He’d produce some bars of lyrics while the other performer sat back, and then the baton was passed and the main performer would link the topic (“…all about love!”, “some say love…”). It’s like the connections between the freestylers was a proof of the ability they had to connect on the fly.
Inner Word Sense
Before bed I had another phone conversation. I offhandedly used the word temporize (def: avoid making a decision or committing oneself in order to gain time). After a moment the person I was speaking to asked for clarification on temporize so I explained it. Here I didn’t use the quoted definition of the word, but my own, something along the lines of “delaying speech or action to buy time” rel:Metaphors We Live By by Lakoff & Johnson.
It took me a moment to compose that on the fly, whereas the word itself was natural. I was also immediately unsure of myself. After the conversation, I searched for the word, only this time I made a mistake. In looking at the word itself too closely, I was suggested “temporalize,” the definition which sounded approximately correct, but I knew it was off. That made me doubt myself, and I wondered if the word I was searching for was in fact “extemporize.” (There is a poetic significance to this topic and the definition: improvise; especially : to speak extemporaneously)
After I realized my error in typing temporalize instead of what I originally said, “temporize.” I thought this was a curious instance of my word sense and that grounding interfacing on multiple levels (my own understanding, the understanding of my speech partner, and the collective dictionary).
This concept of temporize existed inside me freely, and the distinction of correctness only mattered when it was surfaced. What I’m saying is that what if you had a completely idiosyncratic language, where even wrong, say you cannot grasp a word, it wouldn’t matter anymore. The product of sound you produce would be your word for it (based on your own local internal context), because over time that has been made your definition and it matched your correct feel. You swap a word incorrectly, thinking the definition is not what it is. There is no searching for a word here, or stumbling, it’s complete flow. (I actually think there would be stumbling here.)
A gibberish freestyle.
I’m not an expert in freestyle but watching this I wondered the degree of self-edit they go through. rel:Automatism Limits, Detecting an Edit What is the context range? It doesn’t seem like large scale edits are possible in general (though I am sure they can exist, like a callback/setup - but now I wonder which way is in fact easier) but it could be?
Without experience I’m imagining there is some word rhyme memorization, also techniques to “temporize” (ad-libs), maybe fallback language structures (a prepared rhyme or two for a ‘get out scenario”). I’d imagine that once they find a word that matches rhyme or setting, a favored technique stick to it and find a path there and the comedy/art arises from that walk. So they can dedicate all language energy towards getting there, and not necessarily critically flipping rhyme words (basically restarts).
Just an idea because I don’t listen to much of that style of music, but seems possible.
What’s further interesting now, is that I’d imagine a lot of inexperienced people when facing an uncertain rhyme would precisely do that above - spout gibberish or nonsensical rhymes, or default to cliche (“I was walking down the street one day”).