How Linguistic Alchemy Transmogrifies the Spectrum of Suffering

An In-Depth Exploration of How Language Shapes, Reflects, and Transforms Our Experience and Understanding of Pain and Suffering

I will start this Contemplation with a beautiful couplet written by Amir Khurau, a 13th century poet & linguist in his own right.

Abr mi barad o man mi shavad az yaar judaa,

Zahar mi zanad, baaz mi aayad be kaar judaa.

Translation: "The cloud rains and I am separated from my beloved, it strikes like poison and then returns to its separate state."

This couplet, a great fusion of metaphor and emotion, encapsulates the dual nature of pain: it is both a separator and a unifier. It distances us from what we hold dear, yet, paradoxically, it also has the power to connect us to others who share the experience of suffering. The question then arises: How can words, penned in a specific time and place, reverberate across the centuries and become a shared touchstone of human emotion?

The answer lies in the alchemy of language. Pain, this formless spectre that looms large in the recesses of our being, becomes something entirely different once it is articulated. It becomes quantifiable, understandable, and most astonishingly, universally comprehensible.

In this Contemplation, we explore a question that looms as large as the subject it explores: How does putting your pain into words not only give it form and substance but also make it universally understandable? Through the lens of philology and linguistics as our tools of choice, let us illuminate this complexity between language and human suffering, offering insights that are both profound and accessible.

The Weight of Words and their Footprints on Suffering

"In the world of words, the imagination is one of the forces of nature," wrote Wallace Stevens, alluding to the transformative power of language. This force becomes particularly compelling when we examine the language of pain. Michel Foucault, in "The Birth of the Clinic," dissected the vocabulary of medicine, revealing it to be far from neutral. Medical terms, just like the words we use to describe suffering, are imbued with cultural paradigms and historical contexts. They serve not merely as diagnoses but as historical documents, each word a testament to the prevailing intellectual climate of its time.

To appreciate the depth of this observation, consider the vocabulary of pain across civilisations. The ancient Greeks, who laid the foundations for Western thought, had a nuanced lexicon for suffering—'algos' for physical pain, 'lupe' for emotional anguish. Each term acts as a unique prism through which to view the human condition. Fast forward to the Middle Ages, and we find that religious texts framed pain as a celestial trial, introducing terms like 'tribulation' or 'affliction' that were steeped in divine interpretation.

The Enlightenment brought another shift. Pain was reframed from a divine test to a physiological or psychological 'problem' to be solved. The language evolved, becoming more clinical and detached, yet also more universally comprehensible.

As T.S. Eliot observed, "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons." While not explicitly about pain, this line captures how our linguistic choices act as units of measurement for our experiences. Words give form to the formless, allowing us to discuss, dissect, and potentially dissipate suffering.

Thus, the words we scrutinise here are not mere symbols. They are markers in the vast terrain of human suffering, each leaving its unique impression.

The Cultural Imprints of Suffering in Language

"Etymology is the key that unlocks the door to the hidden treasury of words," observes linguist Max Müller. If that's the case, then exploring the etymological roots of words related to pain promises to be a revelatory endeavour. Take, for instance, the English word "pain," which originates from the Old French 'peine,' derived from Latin 'poena,' meaning 'penalty' or 'punishment.' Immediately, we see a linkage between suffering and punitive notions, hinting at a cultural bias that equates pain with wrongdoing or retribution.

Contrast this with the Sanskrit word 'duḥkha,' commonly translated as 'suffering' in Buddhist texts. The term is a composite of 'duḥ' (difficult) and 'kha' (axle hole), picturing a chariot wheel that doesn't fit quite right. The imagery here is mechanical rather than moral, focusing on the idea of 'misalignment' rather than 'penalty.'

But why stop at the familiar? Venture into the lexicon of less commonly spoken languages, and one uncovers a wealth of nuance. In Finnish, the word for pain is 'kipu,' which also refers to a sharp, sudden sensation, providing yet another facet to our understanding of pain as something acute and jarring.

Words capture the essence of cultural perceptions, and their roots often reveal shared beliefs or social norms. Friedrich Nietzsche once noted, "Words are but symbols for the relations of things to one another and to us; nowhere do they touch upon the absolute truth." While we may never grasp the 'absolute truth' of pain, the etymology of the words we use to describe it offers a glimpse into how various cultures attempt to make sense of this universal yet deeply personal experience.

The Semantic Shades of the Spectrum of Suffering

"Language is the dress of thought," Samuel Johnson once declared. If so, then the semantic variations in our descriptions of pain serve as different attires for the same underlying emotion. English alone offers a wide array of terms to describe pain: agony, torment, distress, suffering, each word subtly different in its implication and intensity. Ludwig Wittgenstein, in his seminal work "Philosophical Investigations," argued that language often struggles to capture the complexities of internal states. Nonetheless, the nuances in these synonyms offer us multiple lenses through which to examine the many facets of pain.

Take "agony" and "distress" as examples. "Agony" often conjures images of intense, possibly unbearable, pain. The term has its roots in the Greek 'agōnia,' which refers to a struggle or contest. It implies a magnitude and drama that "distress," a term derived from the Latin 'distringere' meaning 'to stretch apart,' may not evoke. "Distress" implies tension, a pulling in different directions, but it lacks the acute severity associated with "agony."

Such semantic subtleties aren't confined to English. In Arabic, the words 'wajaʻ' (وجع) and 'alam' (ألم) both translate roughly to 'pain,' yet they are used in differing contexts and carry unique connotations. 'Wajaʻ' is more commonly employed for physical pain, while 'alam' often refers to psychological or emotional suffering.

In Chinese, the term 'tòng' (痛) is used to describe both physical pain and emotional hurt, suggesting an integrated understanding of suffering that transcends mind-body dualism.

As George Orwell noted, "By altering the name, we can also, as it were, alter the nature of an object." The rich spread of synonyms and related terms in various languages provides us with the semantic tools to explore, define, and perhaps even alter our experience of pain. Although no single term can encapsulate the complexity of this universal human experience, each adds a unique shade to the spectrum, enhancing our collective understanding.

Using Metaphors to Craft the Lexicon of Lament

"Metaphors are not merely things to be seen beyond. In fact, one can see beyond them only by using other metaphors," wrote George Lakoff and Mark Johnson in their groundbreaking book "Metaphors We Live By." Indeed, the realm of metaphor is where language soars to poetic heights, allowing us to grapple with abstract concepts like pain by anchoring them in concrete imagery. Metaphors for pain abound in literature, providing rich, textured layers to our understanding of suffering.

Consider the words of Emily Dickinson: "Pain has an element of blank; It cannot recollect when it began." Here, the abstraction of pain is described as an "element of blank," an empty space that defies memory. It's a potent metaphor that underscores the enigmatic, all-consuming nature of pain.

The German poet Rainer Maria Rilke took a different approach in his "Duino Elegies," describing suffering as "the dark with busy, oil-dipped feathers brushing against the air." Rilke's metaphor imbues pain with a certain dark agency, painting it as a restless force that actively engages with the world.

In traditional Islamic poetry, pain is often likened to a burning fire, a metaphor that simultaneously conveys the intensity and purifying aspects of suffering.

The Japanese concept of 'Mono no Aware,' the beauty of transience, captures another facet of suffering. It finds expression in the metaphor of cherry blossoms, whose fleeting beauty is a poignant reminder of the ephemeral nature of all things, pain included.

As Aristotle posited in his "Poetics," metaphor is a sign of genius, and "the greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor." In the context of pain, metaphors not only enrich our descriptive vocabulary but also provide a bridge to deeper, more universal understandings of human suffering. Each metaphorical expression adds a layer to our collective lexicon of lament, enhancing the depth and breadth of how we understand, communicate, and ultimately engage with pain.

Using Narrative Alchemy to Transform Suffering into a Story

"In order to see birds, it is necessary to become a part of the silence," wrote Robert Lynd. In a similar vein, to understand the transformative power of narrative, one must become a part of the story—especially when that story is one of pain and suffering. Literature has long served as a vessel for the human experience, allowing us not only to capture but also to transmute our pain into something more expansive.

Consider Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Notes from Underground." I only recently read this book and was blown away by the protagonist's complex emotional turmoil laid bare in intricate narrative threads. Dostoevsky delves into the paradoxes of human suffering, exploring how pain can be both a curse and a source of existential authenticity. The narrative itself becomes a form of alchemy, turning the base metal of suffering into the gold of human understanding.

Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" offers another profound example. The story follows the agonising last days of a man grappling with the meaninglessness of his life, ultimately finding a form of redemption in his suffering. Tolstoy's narrative acts as a crucible in which the raw emotions of fear, despair, and pain are transformed into a poignant tale of awakening and acceptance.

On the other side of the globe, the African literary tradition offers us Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart," where suffering is interwoven with themes of cultural dislocation and personal tragedy. Achebe's narrative crafts a multifaceted lens through which to view the universal aspects of human suffering, grounded in a specific cultural context.

These stories demonstrate the ability of narrative to take the raw, unformed elements of human suffering and shape them into something meaningful. As literary critic Frank Kermode noted, "To make sense of their span they [human beings] need fictive concords with origins and ends." Narrative offers this 'fictive concord,' a framework within which the chaos of pain can be ordered, understood, and ultimately shared.

How Language Amplifies or Dampens Pain

"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world," wrote Ludwig Wittgenstein, capturing the inextricable link between language and experience. This aphorism becomes especially poignant when considering the psychological impact of the language we use to describe pain. Medical and psychological research has shown that the words we choose can amplify or dampen the experience of pain, creating an echo chamber that reverberates through our consciousness.

Consider the concept of 'catastrophising,' a cognitive distortion often observed in chronic pain patients. By using language that exaggerates the severity or permanence of their condition, individuals may inadvertently intensify their experience of pain. Words become self-fulfilling prophecies, echoing back to amplify the suffering they describe.

But the echo chamber can work in the opposite direction as well. In mindfulness and behavioural therapies, patients are often taught to use 'defusion techniques' to separate themselves from their pain. By labelling their experiences with neutral or nonjudgmental language, they can create a cognitive distance that dampens the emotional impact of their suffering.

The Stoic philosopher Epictetus proclaimed, "We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak." Perhaps, in the context of pain, this wisdom suggests that we should be doubly cautious in selecting the words that will reverberate in our mental echo chambers. The language we adopt becomes the lens through which we interpret, endure, and even transcend our suffering.

Amir Khusrau's Quatrain on the Continuum of Suffering

We started this journey with a couplet by Amir Khusrau. So I find it only fitting to end this Contemplation with his quatrain.

"Farsiyaan ra ze man, Turkiaan ra ze tu,

Dil ba yaar, jumla jahaan ra ze du.

Dil az tu, jahaan az man, fariyaad kunam,

Ba yaar dilaare, jahaan yaar bidaad kunam."

Translation: "I learned Persian (to speak) from myself and Turkish (to feel) from you, My heart is with the beloved, and all worlds are from the two. I complain that my heart is from you, and the world is from me, To the friend of the heart, and to the world, I express my agony."

In this quatrain, Khusrau masterfully employs the power of language to explore the duality of human existence—where love, pain, and the very world we inhabit are intertwined. The first couplet introduces two realms: the personal ('Farsiyaan ra ze man') and the relational ('Turkiaan ra ze tu'), representing the manifestation of the self and the feelings that enable it. Khusrau acknowledges that our understanding of pain (and by extension, life) is shaped by both individual experience and interpersonal relationships.

The second couplet delves deeper into this duality. "Dil az tu, jahaan az man" (my heart is from you, and the world is from me) reflects the paradox of human suffering. While our experience of pain is deeply personal, it is also shaped by external factors, including the very world we are a part of. Khusrau laments this reality, acknowledging that both the personal and the universal contribute to his experience of suffering.

The quatrain serves as a potent metaphor for the themes explored throughout this Contemplation. Just as Khusrau navigates the complexities of pain through the lens of love and worldly experiences, we have sought to understand how language—both its limits and its possibilities—shapes our understanding of suffering.