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benthic_universityThough still moderately charred, the classroom door this week bore no suspicious marks. Students could be forgiven for muttering to themselves as they entered the class, but thankfully, all letters and sounds were free to speak.
The Ex-Disgraced Academic was at the lectern, having completed preparing several diagrams on the blackboards behind them.
“Let’s begin a crucial part of crafting proper Correspondence symbols: layering. You may have noticed two weeks ago, the way that the simple greeting was composed of the radicals for the pronoun “You,” as well as the verb “to like.” It does in fact translate as the base reassurance “you are liked.” Not a bad way to greet someone. It is, however, very formal. You see how the two radicals don’t touch? In the improper context, it could possibly be read as ‘The idea of “you” and “being liked” don’t belong within five-thousand light-years of each other.’ Hm. Not half as nice. A more casual way would look like this…” and here, they crossed the tip of To Like through the tail of You, “…there. A gentle light approaches. The meaning of this symbol will change, as the two bisect each other more closely.” The Academic wrote one across the other. “Beloved.” They raised an eyebrow. “No doubt several of you have your hearts aflutter, ready to stamp this on your next note to your latest beau. But might I offer a moment of pause before you attempt it on paper…”
The Academic erased the board. “To explain, let us turn our attention to the use of adjectives. Similarly to the prior example, the position of the adjective will denote the relationship of the adjective to the noun. An adjective which does not touch a noun can be inferred to have a weak, or even negative meaning.” The Academic pulled down a blank board, inscribed the symbol for fire, then encircled it with an odd shape. “The adjective for great, mighty. With no lines touching or intersecting, the meaning could be translated as: A fire lacking in fortitude or greatness.”
Next, The Academic picked up an atomizer, and next to the first symbol, inscribed a similar one. This time, the circle crossed through all four lines in fire. The chalk had scarcely completed its revolution, whereupon the lines blazed, and smoke billowed up from the stone.
Almost bored, The Academic doused the offending symbol, and turned back toward the class. “As you have seen, the nearer and adjective draws to a noun- here even overlapping the center of it- the more it indicates a strong correlation. A conflagration of devastating proportions/The thunderclap death of the mighty.” They gave the board another spray from over their shoulder, for good measure. “Adjectives are where we begin to cross from statements of relatively objective fact into the world of opinion, passion, and coercion. This is how it becomes a weapon.”
“Perception shapes reality, and language is a means of communicating that reality. It’s also a means of making a case that your perceived reality is the true one. And when enough people agree with you, it’s not impossible to say that reality itself can change.”
“The Correspondence is a means of arguing your case with the laws of physics itself. You’re shining a dim light into your own perspective, and allowing others to see it. Other opinions are capable of making a much stronger argument, especially those who are more fluent in the Correspondence. Eloquent folks are like that. And your only option is to become more learned and eloquent.”
“Today you will be practicing how to write the symbol for A small but merry warmth. This symbol is difficult, and can be found somewhere between the two extremes I’ve demonstrated on the board today.” The Academic went to the lectern, flipped open their own notebook, wrote something, and then placed their teacup atop it. “If you do it correctly, it will be sufficient to keep a cup of tea warm for several hours. The eternal tragedy of forgetting your cup until long after it’s gone cold? A thing of the past, if you can pull this off.” The Academic dipped from their cup, pleased with the results. “I haven’t given you a perfect example, because I want you to be careful. Mis-writing this symbol will have immediate consequences, as will most unnecessary hyperbole. Be judicious in the emphasis you place on your thoughts in The Correspondence. Be…” The Academic thought for a beat, then snapped their claws, “…temperate.”
“Allez.”
The Ex-Disgraced Academic was at the lectern, having completed preparing several diagrams on the blackboards behind them.
“Let’s begin a crucial part of crafting proper Correspondence symbols: layering. You may have noticed two weeks ago, the way that the simple greeting was composed of the radicals for the pronoun “You,” as well as the verb “to like.” It does in fact translate as the base reassurance “you are liked.” Not a bad way to greet someone. It is, however, very formal. You see how the two radicals don’t touch? In the improper context, it could possibly be read as ‘The idea of “you” and “being liked” don’t belong within five-thousand light-years of each other.’ Hm. Not half as nice. A more casual way would look like this…” and here, they crossed the tip of To Like through the tail of You, “…there. A gentle light approaches. The meaning of this symbol will change, as the two bisect each other more closely.” The Academic wrote one across the other. “Beloved.” They raised an eyebrow. “No doubt several of you have your hearts aflutter, ready to stamp this on your next note to your latest beau. But might I offer a moment of pause before you attempt it on paper…”
The Academic erased the board. “To explain, let us turn our attention to the use of adjectives. Similarly to the prior example, the position of the adjective will denote the relationship of the adjective to the noun. An adjective which does not touch a noun can be inferred to have a weak, or even negative meaning.” The Academic pulled down a blank board, inscribed the symbol for fire, then encircled it with an odd shape. “The adjective for great, mighty. With no lines touching or intersecting, the meaning could be translated as: A fire lacking in fortitude or greatness.”
Next, The Academic picked up an atomizer, and next to the first symbol, inscribed a similar one. This time, the circle crossed through all four lines in fire. The chalk had scarcely completed its revolution, whereupon the lines blazed, and smoke billowed up from the stone.
Almost bored, The Academic doused the offending symbol, and turned back toward the class. “As you have seen, the nearer and adjective draws to a noun- here even overlapping the center of it- the more it indicates a strong correlation. A conflagration of devastating proportions/The thunderclap death of the mighty.” They gave the board another spray from over their shoulder, for good measure. “Adjectives are where we begin to cross from statements of relatively objective fact into the world of opinion, passion, and coercion. This is how it becomes a weapon.”
“Perception shapes reality, and language is a means of communicating that reality. It’s also a means of making a case that your perceived reality is the true one. And when enough people agree with you, it’s not impossible to say that reality itself can change.”
“The Correspondence is a means of arguing your case with the laws of physics itself. You’re shining a dim light into your own perspective, and allowing others to see it. Other opinions are capable of making a much stronger argument, especially those who are more fluent in the Correspondence. Eloquent folks are like that. And your only option is to become more learned and eloquent.”
“Today you will be practicing how to write the symbol for A small but merry warmth. This symbol is difficult, and can be found somewhere between the two extremes I’ve demonstrated on the board today.” The Academic went to the lectern, flipped open their own notebook, wrote something, and then placed their teacup atop it. “If you do it correctly, it will be sufficient to keep a cup of tea warm for several hours. The eternal tragedy of forgetting your cup until long after it’s gone cold? A thing of the past, if you can pull this off.” The Academic dipped from their cup, pleased with the results. “I haven’t given you a perfect example, because I want you to be careful. Mis-writing this symbol will have immediate consequences, as will most unnecessary hyperbole. Be judicious in the emphasis you place on your thoughts in The Correspondence. Be…” The Academic thought for a beat, then snapped their claws, “…temperate.”
“Allez.”
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-16 10:48 am (UTC)Murmuring back, beyond pleased yet keeping from showing it too much in a more experienced way than probably expected. "One of such joys I wish to bask in while possible... And one better shared." Closed with a playful wink of an inner membrane, closing horizontally across the eye instead of vertically.
"But I'm afraid class is about to start. We'll continue later." They say, before departing back to their desk before risking the wrath of the Emissary.