To follow the least of strands,
what constitutes 'business English?' Surely there is no better gimmick than
the finely wrought metaphor, and as far as I know, the typical business
pitch is loaded with metaphors, as is advertising. How does one learn the
powers and limits of language without studying poetry?
I've been looking at Canto XLV for a presentation I'm giving in a few
months. One could almost replace each instance of 'with usura' with
'without poetry,' and have an equally stunning, albeit gloomy effect.
'It rusteth the craft and the craftsman
It gnaweth the thread in the loom
None learneth to weave gold in her pattern'
Canto XLV
-----Original Message-----
From: - Ezra Pound discussion list of the University of Maine
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Grace Davis
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2001 10:26 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Fw:
Hail to ya, Stepen. All of my students are only interested in
money/business/computers as well. Keep up the good work of trying to open
their minds.
-Grace Davis
Stephen Tyler wrote:
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Stephen Tyler" <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thu, 08 Nov 2001 11:55:57 +0200
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject:
> Hope you don't mind me reusing this message to the HD group as means of
introduction.
> Hello all! I'm new to this list, and not being a seasoned user of IT, I
hope I've done what's necessary to join the group.(I think I have, but I've
received some contradictory status messages, and haven't yet received any
messages from the group: hence my doubt.)
> I live in Warsaw, Poland, where I teach English. Born in Sydney,
Australia, I've lived for 20 years in London, mainly, but with several
stints teaching here in Warsaw.
> My love of HD was born of my studies of EP during my 20s.(I'm mid 40s, if
you were wondering, and, yes, I know I should have taken a course in IT by
now.) Though I greatly admire Pound, it is mainly as a teacher and
influence, not so much as a poet: I concluded, after many years studying
modernist poetry, that HD was more truly a poet than Pound, even than Eliot.
This is something I hope to discuss with the group.
> I have scant opportunity here to teach HD: most of my students have
deadened their sensibilities with business studies, and my attempts to
revive them have only jeopardised my job prospects. Business English is
what's in demand here: I've never lived in a country where Humanities/Arts
is considered so unimportant, and where so many sensitive looking young
people bury themselves in such studies as Marketing, Management etc. But I
hope I've been able to offer an alternative vision to at least a few of
them, and have found HD's poetry the best means for this.
> Next week I'm going to Venice and Florence for a week. (I hope to pour a
libation at EP's grave in Venice.)
> Well, that's me introduced! I promise to keep more closely to the list
topic in future.
> Hope to hear from the group soon.
>
> --
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com
> http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup
>
> 1 cent a minute calls anywhere in the U.S.!
>
> http://www.net2phone.com/cgi-bin/link.cgi?170
>
> --
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com
> http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup
>
> 1 cent a minute calls anywhere in the U.S.!
>
> http://www.net2phone.com/cgi-bin/link.cgi?170
|
