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throwaway-yandere · 2 years

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Worksheets (Yandere!Alhaitham/Reader)

A/n: What's this, Ansy? Planning on two Alhaitham fics??? Are you not loyal to Dain or Ayat– Speak not, my comrade. Don't tell me that the new Archon Quest wasn't delectable lmao. Also, today was the first time I got a tip, and I??? I've never known happiness quite like that. I'm crying. I will remember you forever, "mommy milkers", I'll dedicate this fic to you ;;-;; (I'm pretty sure I know who you are "*chomp* *chomp*" but that name is entertaining lmao.) On another note, kinda loved how this fic turned out and this is prolly the closest thing I'll ever write to a "lime" lmao.

Unreliable Synopsis: (Student!Alhaitham era) Studying 20 languages is quite an exhausting task. It's a great thing Alhaitham is eager to help his "study buddy".

Cw: yandere themes, implied drugging and non/dubcon. Please don't read this if you're sensitive to the content mentioned. Your mental health matters.

—--------

Alhaitham, like you, is not the type to strike up an amusing discussion while he has a book in his hands. So he laid down his book and decided to take yours as well.

As Akademiya students, you are both bound by a single, exhausting clearance requirement: master 20 languages before graduation. So far, you think you're passable at best on writing romanized Inazuman script and laughable at worst on pronouncing proper Liyue intonations. You can already count yourself as one of the many students that won't see the light of employment next year, but Alhaitham won't let you sulk so readily.

"Time's up. You're done, right?"

He slid the textbook off the table and began flipping through your work.

You didn't reply. Instead, you felt the weight of your head on both palms. It's not that you're unable to reply. You just don't want to admit how illiterate you are in foreign linguistics.

"(Y/n), look at me when I'm speaking."

"I accept my fate." You muttered, soundly defeated. And then, you let yourself rest on the table. "Here lies (Y/n) (L/n). May they finally learn how to pronounce 印 properly in the afterlife."

Alhaitham rolled his eyes.

"Should I help send you off to Aaru Village? Want a proper goodbye from your old study buddy?"

"That would be quite nice, yes."

"Sure. I'll be happy to do that." He stopped flipping through the pages and focused all his attention on you. "If you started acting hysterical and destructive. But you're not. You're just miserable and reserved."

"Thanks for that wonderful assessment, Professor Alhaitham. I'm sure studying neurophilosophy helped you come up with that conclusion. Oh, your brilliance never ceases to surprise me!"

Alhaitham chuckled. His chuckles are almost always short-lived and 100% condescending.

"(Y/n), language is simply not your forte. But you do wonders in mathematics since we are almost on the same level."

You glared, finally meeting his gaze.

"Must you always brag about yourself whenever you try to cheer me up?"

"Hmm?"

"Lord Kusanali– don't tell me you haven't noticed that about yourself…"

He lightly smacked your head with your textbook. You winced, exaggerating your pain.

"Our conversation isn't about me, it's you. Now, enlighten me, how on earth did you manage to mistake Snezhnayan scripts in a Liyue assignment?"

"E-Eh?!"

You snatched your book back.

"Holy shit. You're right."

You may not like beer, the first time you drank one it tasted funny, but at that moment you decided that once exams are over you're going to get completely inebriated.

Alhaitham watched you reread your work and fondly memorized the way your eyebrows knitted and your eyes skimming through the pages. Your fingers gripped that book as if your life depended on it. That might as well be true knowing your passion for your degree, but he simply wished you will spare part of that zeal for him.

He used to study alone until you showed up. Freshman year was brutal and unkind, but when you insisted on becoming his partner the world had taken on a vibrant hue. Alhaitham never asked for a partner, but your proposal was enticing that he had to say yes. He lied and said he merely wanted to see where this would lead him before, but now he is proud to say he did not regret that decision. It's a shame that your persuasive techniques do not work well with complex Liyue scripts, if they did you would've aced these tests.

"Ugghhh... I hope I get buried raw so I wouldn't have to worry about funeral expenses too..."

Alhaitham did not mind that he's helping you work on your quote-unquote "bane of existence." Students at the Akademiya sometimes fear group work, but he's not one of them. He hopes for one in each subject should it entail that you'll be beside him. Should the assignment be on a frost-prickling mountain, he still wouldn't hesitate to tag along if it meant sharing his cloak and warmth with you. Alhaitham doubts he cares about any other factors. As a friend and intellectual collaborator, you've become irreplaceable.

That's why he won't let you fall behind.

"Chin up." He patted your head like you would a cat.

"H-Huh?"

"I said chin up," Alhaitham spoke, uncharacteristically soft. "I'll be right here beside you until we graduate."

You smiled, not at all comforted but grateful for the gesture. You sat up straight. "Thanks, Haitham."

When given the option to either comfort or critique, Alhaitham doesn't hesitate to choose the latter. This small moment made you happy. Back then, he used to be rather cold and skilled at getting you off his life. You subconsciously began to grin. Your friend Lisa was right, he softens when he's with you–

"Which is why I'll be sending you additional practice sheets for you to work on," Alhaitham added bluntly, his words dropping like a hammer. "I'm not letting you play games until you perfect writing these scripts."

Your eyes stared coldly back at him.

Nevermind. Forget it. He's the same as he had always been.

"Way to ruin the moment, Future Grand Scribe."

—----

Three days have passed and it's the last day of your dreaded linguistics exams.

Well, that sounds more significant than what it is. It's the last day of ALHAITHAM'S MOCK EXAMS, which is what it actually is, but you can't help but feel nervous as you would in a real graded performance. He takes practice exercises and their punishments very seriously. Last time was just a surprise quiz, so the intensity differed greatly.

Alhaitham took a seat at an adjacent table. He was amusingly dressed in a pair of glasses and an Akademiya professor uniform. You'd mock him for believing in you when you claimed you wanted the exam to be as immersive as possible, but his execution is far too effective for your liking. For crying out loud, he even received the alchemy professor's signed permission to borrow his room!

"For your last test, you need to translate this Liyue text back to Sumeru scripts. I'll give you… 30 minutes for this." He said, adjusting his timer.

Alhaitham cast a sidelong glance at you, pretending not to see your apprehension. His fingers lingered over the reset and split buttons.

"Are you ready?"

You felt your palms beginning to sweat.

"S-Sure."

He didn't care what your answer was– no professor would ever wait for a student. Alhaitham flipped the test paper to its front page.

"Timer starts now."

Nervously, you picked up your pen and paper and started reading. Alhaitham left the timer on top of the table and went back to drinking his cup.

Alright, here we go.

Decoding it was simple, at first. The start felt like a canned script for a traditional romantic light novel. You translated the messages back to your native tongue. Then, things started to become a bit complicated.

'I've decided to be entirely honest and truthful in this letter, so I'll start from the very beginning. I used to despise you.'

Your nose scrunched, amused. What an introduction. You pointed your pen in his direction.

"Is our friendship over, Haitham?"

He glared. "Quit talking. 29 minutes and 38 seconds–"

"Alright, alright. Geez."

'But you were so relentless that I couldn't help but cave in. Who wouldn't? You're personable and you share my beliefs about research autonomy. It's difficult to find someone who is an expert at both. You'd know that best.'

'It's pitiful that I can't handle the notion of losing you once this is finished. Many people do not consider me to be empathic and they frequently misinterpret my lack of emotional expression as a lack of empathy. But you've always been so accepting of me.'

'It's a shame that you left me when morning came. I've never felt solitude quite like that wake-up call.'

You grimaced as you continued to read the rest of the paragraphs. Whoever wrote this must be seriously lovelorn and obsessed because they wrote as if they've hopelessly known that their affections will remain unreciprocated beyond half a decade.

The author went on to describe how they had watched their beloved enjoy their life blissfully ignorant of the misery they had caused him. Given that Alhaitham creates everything by hand, the stark contrast between the material and his precise letterings does nothing to express the writer's frantic confession.

'I can't get the thought of you out of my mind. It's exhilarating. I've never been this stimulated before I met you.'

'I need you, even after our partnership is over.'

You can't get over how, in Alhaitham's fine handwriting, the author gradually spiraled from unrequited love to an obsession that can't be helped.

'You have qualities that no one else possesses. Traits that I want in a lifelong companion. You taught me things I didn't know I wanted for myself. And you are on top of that list.'

'As you're probably aware, you do have a guardian angel. I sometimes answer your assignments for you. Every morning, I pay for your coffee and leave sticky notes in case you overlook your deadlines. These are all unpaid acts of kindness, but they make me feel like I'm laying a better foundation for a relationship with you.'

'I admit, I don't mind following you around like an affectionate dog every now and then. Your schedule is predictable. You even handed me a duplicate with your new phone number on it. It's both pleasant and difficult for me to watch you from a distance, but what else can I do? Everyone knows I'm rather socially inept for this to play out as smoothly as I'd hope so I had to stoop to this method.'

'At least I learned not to break doors this time."

'Once we both graduate, I might not be able to see you again in my life. We will no longer work together as much as we did before. I wouldn't be able to see you laugh or make excuses just to touch you. I like being near you. Even if you consider me as a one-night stand. Even if you consider me as your biggest mistake.'

You looked at Alhaitham with a face that ridiculed his choice of picking this creepy excerpt. He didn't so much as move and continued sitting at the table, staring at you robotically calm.

You hope this Liyue person has already been apprehended by the Millelith.

You resumed deciphering after deciding to trust whatever bizarre letter Alhaitham had assigned to you. You were beginning to feel sorry for the person Alhaitham obtained the love letter from and its intended recipient... You wouldn't be astonished if Alhaitham pulled this letter from the hands of a mad scholar and deemed it a worthy linguistics exercise.

'You're mine and you will learn to love me. I've already decided on that.'

'I'm sure that declaration is bound to scare you, but I genuinely meant it. I can understand if you react violently. I wouldn't hate you if you tried to contact the authorities, but just know that eremites are useless against me.'

You scowled. Perhaps your study companion wanted you to be wholly aware that translating is not an easy task. If so, you're impressed by his dedication. You'd never read a letter like this again.

Then it got worse.

'That's why I need to take control again.'

'I need you to open your eyes– I need you to know that without me, you cannot survive in a world beyond academics.'

'You need me just as much as I need you, too.'

'So when will you invite me back to Dorm 569?'

You stopped reading and you felt the clip of your pen snap.

Slowly, you turned the paper to its back. Your eyes were glued to the table, unable to look at your study partner's face.

"Alhaitham…" You laughed sheepishly. "Do… Do you have to go above and beyond writing such a… personal sounding example? You know, the Akademiya doesn't allow plagiarism—especially when it's a creepy love letter."

Being batch-mates with Alhaitham, you're well aware of his eccentricities. And being batch-mates with you helps him pretend that there's nothing creepy about knowing a few minor details too.

But this is… is not one of them.

Alhaitham placed his mug down and began to peek through your worksheets behind you.

"Five minutes left, I'm guessing you're on the last paragraph?" He spoke as if your concerns were nonexistent.

"Of course I'm on the damn last paragraph!!!"

You immediately covered your mouth, looking around the room if you had disturbed others, before being staunchly reminded that you are alone. With him.

It's like reading a horror story at home alone on the weekends. The setting is safe, you trust Alhaitham, but your heart is restless.

Dorm 569.

It's your dorm number but it's not an innocent suggestion if– when it comes from him. The implication was sinister and cruel. There is a historical context that vastly changes the flow of this conversation. A context that you don't want to address plainly.

"This is just a joke, right?" You gulped dryly. Despite your treacherous nerves, you made a joke. "You're not stalking me, are you?"

He raised an eyebrow.

Alhaitham steadily reduced the gap between you two by holding your chair with both hands. Before you could realize it, he had already closed off all means of escape. You felt his breathing brush against you. Every inch of your body begged for a sprint as his green-orange eyes peered through your soul, calculating as they had always been.

You need to leave.

"You're going to brush off the rest of what you've read and focus on such a minor detail? You're not going to ask if I have feelings for you like a normal person?"

His breath smelled like coffee.

"I would if this fucking letter sounded anywhere close to normal!" You yell-whispered.

You combed your hair back with your fingers, feeling your entire body shaken by his implied agreement.

"Shit, Alhaitham… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell your ears out– I'm just a bit…" You laughed, sinking your weight on the chair's cross rail but he inched closer, maintaining the distance you had before. "Moved? I'm so bad at vocab, is that the word? Yeah, moved by that love letter, I suppose."

"Don't be sarcastic. You're frightened."

You scoffed.

"D-Duh, making jokes is a coping mechanism. Something you wouldn't relate to, I know."

He didn't move from his position.

You breathed in sharply. "What?"

"You still haven't asked."

"Asked what?"

"If I like you romantically."

"W-Well, you still haven't answered me either."

"Answered what?"

"... Is it true? Are you stalking me?"

He did not hesitate to answer. "In a sense, yes."

What…?

Your stomach flipped at his nonchalant reply. He tilted your chin up. The short distance between you two began to diminish as you felt Alhaitham's hair against your cheek.

"How else would I know your dorm number if I didn't, right?"

You slapped his hand away. "You know what I meant. This isn't funny at all. Please answer me seriously."

"I thought you think of me as a guardian angel. You wanted the truth and I gave you my thoughts." Alhaitham pressed.

You don't want to believe it.

You don't want to acknowledge that it was someone you trusted who forced you to bed.

"I am stalking you. Tell me– who else would've fucked you senseless that night? Go on, tell me, (Y/n)."

But you knew deep down that it was him.

You shoved him off, but he was stronger than you are. You've seen him in action, he did not lie when fighting eremites are child's play to him. You're his study partner, and you, unfortunately, know him best as he stated in that letter.

Dorm 569. That night was a blur and you've changed rooms since then. Another student, Soraya, began living in your old room. You couldn't bear to visit and see how the freshman was doing.

You never actively seek parties, and Alhaitham was the same. But one night, you both decided to finally experience the infamous "college life" by attending one. Your brain refused to unfold everything that transpired. Pieces of your conversations occasionally resurface, but they're all mundane yet bitter. Retracing your steps had a major discrepancy from drinking beer to waking up in your dorm with a broken door.

Nothing explained why your study partner was naked beside you, lovingly caressing your hair.

"Were you fantasizing about another man? One of our seniors, perhaps? Are you one of those people who get off on unbalanced relationship dynamics?"

There was no explanation as to why you woke up screaming.

And there were no words spoken about it the next time you bumped into each other.

He never mentioned it again.

And you foolishly thought that was the end of it.

"S-Stop…"

"If not our old seniors… Was it our Ethics professor?"

Your heart dropped.

Alhaitham laughed. His usually calm green-orange eyes that soothed you swirled with what you assumed was jealousy and self-loathing. Two emotions you have not seen before, or at least, did not acknowledge.

You both knew you were scared to face reality. But he doesn't want to play these mind games any longer. Alhaitham already decided on it. You will recall everything.

His grip on your chin tightened.

"It's him, correct? I won't forget the way you moaned 'Sir' when I pulled your hair. If I wasn't confident, I wouldn't be wearing this stupid pair of glasses and uniform just to woo you."

You could no longer speak. Alhaitham took it as permission to do anything he wants with you. Just like that night.

His lengthy fingers pinched your inner thigh.

"Then again, I don't think I can keep acting like him. Spiking a drink would be in his list of unforgivable actions I'm sure."

You trembled.

"Still won't answer, (Y/n)? Or would you prefer I call you Mx. (L/n)?"

Alhaitham scoffed, grinning.

"You don't have to answer. We have the classroom all to ourselves to test that hypothesis."

#yandere al haitham #yandere alhaitham #yandere al haitham x reader #yandere alhaitham x reader #yandere genshin x reader #yandere #yandere genshin #yandere x reader #yandere genshin impact #yandere fanfiction #yandere oneshot #yandere genshin imagines #yandere male #tag: w - alhaitham #alhaitham #technically aint? but oh well lol #idk what tumblr wants from me #ansy-writes

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sustainableprosperity2 · 4 months

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youtube

The Cognitive Dissonance Crisis | Sarah Stein Lubrano

What do W.E.I.R.D countries have in common? Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic. The citizens of these countries exhibit markedly more extreme psychological characteristics than those of non-WEIRD nations. One of the weirdest characteristics is a belief in a fixed “self’ which will behave in a reliable and predictable manner no matter the environment. The belief in this unchanging self is what makes it very difficult for us to change our minds—and even concoct wild rationalisations to justify our behaviour. Welcome to the age of cognitive dissonance. Sarah Stein Lubrano, a researcher at Oxford University, joins me to explain the cognitive dissonance phenomenon, its roots in the alleged security granted to us by a fixed sense of self, and why it’s so hard to change our beliefs. She then reveals what neurophilosophy tells us about how to help others change our minds, the power of storytelling, and the importance of social infrastructure for creating cohesive, fluid and non-judgemental communities. It is these brave communities which dare examine themselves, their beliefs about the world—and change their maladaptive behaviours. This is an episode about how to dare change our minds.

#Youtube

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enderwiggin · 2 years

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Doing research for a neurophilosophy paper and creating a compilation of weird ableism in the literature:

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flyin-shark · 11 months

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do you believe there is conscious thought?

(https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/there-is-no-such-thing-as-conscious-thought/ is like. why I’m curious.)

The aforementioned article

For the record I’m not an expert in any of this at all.

I’m convinced that consciousness and free will are emergent processes of the brain. And the brain is a complex series of electro-chemical reactions (those are the right words right?).

Consciousness in the way most people use the term generally means being awake or being actively aware of your thoughts. It generally relates to having some level of awareness.

“In neurophilosophy, however, we refer to “thought” in a much more specific sense. In this view, thoughts include only nonsensory mental attitudes, such as judgments, decisions, intentions and goals. These are amodal, abstract events, meaning that they are not sensory experiences and are not tied to sensory experiences. Such thoughts never figure in working memory. They never become conscious. And we only ever know of them by interpreting what does become conscious, such as visual imagery and the words we hear ourselves say in our heads.”

This quote from the article explains the difference in our definitions of the term thought. Using my layman’s understanding I’d say that the “visual imagery and the words we hear ourselves say in our heads” are conscious thoughts.

Tldr: I’m not a neuroscientist or philosopher so using the coloquial definitions of the words I do believe conscious thought exists.

#shark sayin stuff #philosophy #consciousness

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derek6196 · 2 months

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How to become a super memorizer – and what it does to your brain

How to become a super memorizer – and what it does to your brain https://www.theguardian.com/science/neurophilosophy/2017/mar/08/how-to-become-a-super-memorizer-and-what-it-does-to-your-brain?CMP=share_btn_url

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hardstackstreetmag · 1 year

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Neuroscience and Metaphysics: Understanding Human Consciousness

Neuroscience and Metaphysics: Understanding Human Consciousness Neurophilosophy is an interdisciplinary field that combines neuroscience with philosophy to explore the nature of consciousness. It is a growing field that has gained much attention in recent years due to breakthroughs in technology that have allowed us to study the brain in unprecedented detail. Neurophilosophy aims to understand the relationship between the brain and the mind, and to explore the connection between physical processes in the brain and subjective experiences of the mind. The study of consciousness has historically been the domain of philosophers, but advances in neuroscience have provided new insights into the workings of the brain that have challenged traditional philosophical views. As a result, neurophilosophy has emerged as a field that seeks to understand human consciousness through a combination of empirical research and philosophical inquiry. From Brain to Mind: The Neuroscience of Consciousness The neuroscience of consciousness is concerned with understanding the brain processes that give rise to conscious experience. Consciousness is a complex phenomenon that encompasses a wide range of experiences, from simple perceptions to complex emotions and thoughts. Neuroscientists use a variety of techniques to study consciousness, including brain imaging, electrophysiology, and lesion studies. Research has shown that consciousness arises from the interactions between different regions of the brain. Different parts of the brain are responsible for different aspects of conscious experience, such as perception, attention, and memory. The neural processes that give rise to consciousness are not fully understood, but there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that consciousness is an emergent property of the brain. Beyond the Physical: Metaphysical Approaches to Consciousness Metaphysical approaches to consciousness are concerned with understanding the nature of consciousness beyond the physical processes of the brain. These approaches often draw on philosophical traditions, such as idealism and panpsychism, which posit that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of the universe. One popular metaphysical approach to consciousness is the idea that consciousness is not solely produced by the brain, but is a fundamental property of the universe, akin to space and time. This view, known as panpsychism, posits that all matter has some degree of consciousness, and that the brain acts as a kind of filter that allows certain aspects of consciousness to become manifest in our subjective experience. Bridging the Two Worlds: The Intersection of Neuroscience and Metaphysics Despite the differences between neuroscience and metaphysics, there is a growing recognition that these two fields can complement each other in the study of consciousness. The intersection of neuroscience and metaphysics can provide a more comprehensive understanding of consciousness that takes into account both the physical and metaphysical aspects of the phenomenon. Neurophilosophers are beginning to explore how metaphysical approaches to consciousness can inform and be informed by neuroscience. For example, some researchers are investigating whether panpsychism can provide a theoretical framework for understanding the relationship between consciousness and the brain. Others are exploring how insights from neuroscience can shed light on the philosophical debates surrounding consciousness. By bridging the two worlds of neuroscience and metaphysics, neurophilosophy offers a unique approach to understanding consciousness that can help us unravel the mysteries of the mind. The study of consciousness is one of the most fascinating areas of research in neuroscience and philosophy. The interdisciplinary field of neurophilosophy offers a promising approach to understanding the nature of consciousness by combining empirical research with philosophical inquiry. By exploring the intersection of neuroscience and metaphysics, neurophilosophers are able to take into account both the physical and metaphysical aspects of consciousness, providing a more comprehensive understanding of this complex phenomenon. As technology continues to advance, we can expect to gain even more insights into the workings of the brain and the nature of consciousness, further enriching our understanding of what it means to be human. Follow Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hard-stack-street-magazine-b3682925b/ For More Information on Self Improvement check out our section https://hardstackstreetmag.com/category/self-improvement/ Read the full article

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existentialintegration · 3 years

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3/16/21

To fall into one’s self seems to be the cycle.

Would extra attention be the answer?

I’d like to meet someone who still does things without posting about it.

#internal #external #stimuli #words #consciousness #neurophilosophy #poetry #existential integration #window #mirror

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classicwisdom · 3 years

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You can’t learn anything if you think you know everything. #learn #learning #keeplearning #wisdom #philosophy #philosophyquotes #neurophilosophy #quotes #education #knowledge #know #lifequotes #life #quotestoliveby #quotestagram #quotesaboutlife #motivationalquotes #inspiration #books #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CUV6Fx3hRcg/?utm_medium=tumblr

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thereal-courtneycrosslin · 4 years

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[repost] . . There is something called #Synesthesia. Defined As: “the production of a sense impression relating to one sense or part of the body by stimulation of another sense or part of the body.” 🔨 🔨 🔨 I often say #ISeeWithMyHands. Little did I know when I first said it, just how true that is. 🔨 It's amazing what we can learn on this journey when we go deeper/beyond mainstream topics as it relates to this journey -- piecing things together. 🔨 If you're familiar with #ASMR and #EFT this might make sense: Most of us are so used to touching things that have been sanded, buffed and polished to perfection. Things in their natural state (or close to it) often make us feel uncomfortable and then our brains translate that as imperfect or wrong -- Much like the ways we a westerners deal with people who have certain “mental illnesses.” However, if we’re able to get past those initial feelings, we will often find that working with the unknown can be liberating to the extent of being therapeutic. 🔨 It takes us back to a state/place before industrialization, etc. -- a place many are doing emotional work to remember -- who we were, before… 🔨 Working with my hands is kinda like that. I guess one might say that being #Psychic, highly intuitive or empathic is much like that. 🔨 This brings me back to the #MeditationBoards and their texture. Because they are #ReclaimedWood, they’re often not perfect -- and since I make it a point not to manipulate them too much, they still have a lot of shape to them and texture - each unique -- carrying its own energy. So the visual while meditating is a different experience. 🔨 🔨 🔨 . . . . . . #THOTreader #CourtneyCrosslin #Neurophilosophy #ArtTherapy #MultidimensionalBeing #HealingArts #MedicineWoman #ExtrasensoryPerception #HealingHands #EmotionalWellBeing #DecolonizeYourHealing #Meditation #Mindfulness #EmergeCommitTransform #EnergyHealing #Bruja #GoddessVibes #Chakras #Reiki #handmadewithlove #lightlanguage #alifeofintention #conjure https://www.instagram.com/p/B9w9_XPneSi/?igshid=t1jhbwj3ggb7

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mesimees · 2 years

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Anyway here comes a rant on why I'm so happy I took Latin in secondary school. Mind you I wasn't good at it. I was so bad at it that my Latin teacher was super surprised when after graduation I sent him a message about wanting to help promote Latin during an open house day.

NB: I am in no way an expert on Latin, I just had it in secondary school for 6 years and this is from memory. I won't be talking about "it's a gateway to Romance languages!" or "it's so easy to understand medical terms!" Also won't talk about the actual content of Latin texts bc that's a whole different story and this rant is long enough.

Anyway *ahem* Languages amirite? I hated learning languages in school with a passion. The words never stuck, never mind the rules. I never felt like I could actually speak or understand people and none of it stuck after I graduated. (Except for English but I mostly learned that through immersion anyway.)

Learning Latin was different. You were never expected to be able to speak or write it. Translate some words both ways sure but once it got a little more complex I never wrote down a full Latin sentence unless I had to quote it.

Latin has a case system with not that many cases, I believe it's 7 but we were generally taught 5 (vocative and locative left out). This was a way better introduction to cases than say German and here's why. In German, the cases are mostly there for show in the sense that if you use the wrong one it sounds off but the sentence likely won't get an entirely different meaning. All this did was make learning cases frustrating. I never really saw their purpose. In Latin the declensions contain so much information that the word order in a sentence in comparison matters very little. This means that you really have to pay attention to the cases to be able to figure out what the sentence says. Complex patterns form and translating becomes a little puzzle.

It is such a different way of learning a language than the way other languages are taught. Obviously it should be because you have a different goal, you don't need to speak it. But it has taught me to look at languages differently. The way I look at languages now (after the initial wow i like this language let's learn how to say hello!!) is I look at the syntax and grammar first. How do words interact, how does sentence structure matter, why does this word suddenly go there? Why are all these words singular? How do you show possession? How do I glue two sentences together? That's vastly different from "let's learn the colors and some animals, no no let's leave composed sentences for 2 years from now. Now here's how to conjugate to be, learn this by heart without context." If that method works for you I'm really happy for you but it never did for me and it made me hate learning languages.

Having this other angle from which you can look at languages opened up a world for me. I now love languages! I study linguistics for fun! In and out of school. I'm currently actively learning *checks notes* 2 languages (one a little better than the other lol) that are completely different from your standard Romance or Germanic languages. Not because they're very useful but because they're cool and pretty and interesting. And I have gone on many many hyperfoci of cool language things. Did you know there's a language that is SO agglutinative that each sentence is just one word? Did you know there's a language that instead of saying left or right they say east or west so regardless of how they're standing or how you approach a junction they'll always give the same directions? Did you know some languages have a word form that indicates that the speaker caused someone else to do or undergo a certain thing? In one and the same word?? How cool is that!

All that said, I'm not saying that Latin is the only language that can open this door. But we need another approach to languages in school because language is so much more than cramming words you'll never use and I am so sure that if I hadn't taken Latin it would've taken me so much longer to see what languages actually have to offer. And for now Latin is the tiny door to that world and that's why as a person who hated languages I will still to this day advocate for taking and giving Latin classes.

Tl;dr: Latin gave young me a different perspective to language study and it's underappreciated in that regard.

#hey did you know I don't major in linguistics #I blog about linguistics a lot but it's all electives and personal interest #I major in artificial intelligence. robots and stuff. neurophilosophy. That kind of stuff.#who wouldve guessed #linguistics #latin #langblr #latin language #me #my post #long post #sort of #languages

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