How I Had Fun Creating a New Language: My Journey with New Shu
How New Shu encourages nuanced perception
How I Had Fun Creating a New Language: My Journey with New Shu — AI Image by Author https://perchance.org/ai-pixel-art-generator
Have you ever felt like regular words just don’t fully express what’s going on in your head? Like you need more than just those basic word blobs to capture all the weird, wild thoughts bouncing around in there? That’s exactly how I felt after reading Alan Watts’ trippy book “What is Tao?”
See, Watts opened my eyes to these ancient Eastern ideas about how reality is this crazy, ever-changing dance. Concepts like “Wu” — the fertile void that everything emerges from and returns to. As a Western word nerd, my brain was totally blown. Our languages are so focused on strict definitions and putting things into little boxes. A flower is just a plant, a cloud is some water droplets, end of the story.
But what if that oversimplified labelling actually prevents us from fully grasping the depth and flow of existence? What if reality is too vibrant, too alive, too infinitely complex to cram into those tiny word prisons?
It was pondering ideas like that which led me down the zany path of creating my own language: New Shu. A total mashup of English with the symbolic world of Chinese ideograms and a sprinkling of whimsical numbers and symbols tossed in.
Deconstructing the Meaning Behind the Name
New
The word “New” in the context of “New Shu” carries several layers of significance: Freshness and Innovation: It suggests a departure from traditional languages, embracing a new approach to communication and expression.
Novelty and Uniqueness: Emphasizes the language’s unique ability to convey ideas beyond traditional languages.
Continuous Evolution: Suggests a dynamic language, ever-evolving and adapting to the world’s changes.
Openness: Invites new ideas, perspectives, and understandings of the world.
Break from Norms: Encourages freedom from conventional language constraints, exploring new expressive possibilities.
Shu
Shu: The word “Shu” holds multiple meanings, both in its original Chinese context and in the context of “New Shu”:
Writing and Communication: In Chinese, “Shu” (書) refers to writing, calligraphy, and literature. It implies a language that is not just spoken but also written, preserving and transmitting knowledge and ideas across time.
Ideas and Concepts: “Shu” can also mean “book” or “volume,” suggesting a language that is capable of expressing complex ideas and concepts with depth and precision.
Connection to Chinese Tradition: The inclusion of “Shu” from Chinese connects the language to the rich cultural heritage and linguistic traditions of China.
Harmony and Balance: In Taoist philosophy, “Shu” (樞) represents the central axis or pivot of the universe, symbolizing harmony, balance, and the interconnection of all things.
No dry definitions
The random thought process went something like this: Instead of dry definitions, what if words could burst forth with multiple layers of linked meaning? Like those trippy ideogram drawings that you can interpret a million ways. Except in New Shu, they’re not just ideograms — they’re words, numbers, and symbols, all blended into an oddball stew of expressiveness.
That’s how simple phrases transform into kaleidoscopic orgies of concept. Like “Knowledge is Power (K→3^I).” On the surface, it’s just some letters and crud. But in New Shu, it becomes: K= knowledge, with the arrow shooting it towards a goal, amplified by 3 (the power and impact), and supercharged with I for insight/understanding.
My tool
Another example: “Infinite Love (L∞>C).” The L is obvious, love. But that infinity symbol lends it an eternal, boundless quality. The “greater than” sign makes the love too huge to be contained, surpassing all limitations. And C represents the commitment that gives love its enduring strength.
Through fun blends like those, New Shu became my tool for embodying and expressing those mind-melting Eastern philosophical concepts in a tangible way. Each little symbolic phrase was like a customized lens for perceiving reality’s infinite depth and constant flow.
Freedom is Flight (F→∞>W).” On the surface, it’s just a phrase about freedom. But in New Shu, it becomes F= freedom, with the arrow shooting it upwards (→) to convey the idea of upward momentum and limitless possibilities (∞). The “greater than” sign (>) suggests that freedom is not just a feeling, but a state that can be cultivated and nurtured. The letter W (wind) adds a sense of movement and liberation to the phrase.
How I Had Fun Creating a New Language: My Journey with New Shu — AI Image by Author (Midjourney).
Harmony and Wisdom
“Happiness is Harmony (H→∩>S).” This phrase uses the symbol of harmony (∩) to convey the idea that happiness is a state of balance and alignment. The “greater than” sign (>) suggests that happiness is not just a feeling, but a state that can be cultivated and nurtured. The letter S (sound) adds a sense of harmony and resonance to the phrase.
“Wisdom is Web (W→∫>T).” This phrase uses the symbol of integration (∫) to suggest that wisdom is a web of interconnected ideas and experiences. The “greater than” sign (>) implies that wisdom is not just a collection of knowledge, but a dynamic and evolving process of integration and synthesis. The letter T (thread) adds a sense of connection and unity to the phrase.
Limitless interpretations
More than that, New Shu injected a playful irreverence into the lofty realm of philosophy. Rather than getting bogged down in heady definitions, it celebrated the uncertainty and limitless interpretations of the void. It was a language that didn’t cling to absolutes but invited you to revel in the continuous unfolding of existence.
New Shu became my companion for finding joy and wonder in the ever-shifting mysteries of reality. A guide that reminded me not to get trapped in rigid labels or certainties, but to dance amidst the constant becoming that pulses through all existence.
Perception
At the end of the day, spiritual enlightenment or coherent communication was never really the goal. Sure, those heady concepts inspired its creation. But in practice, New Shu was just my personal excuse to blend words, symbols and numbers into quirky new combos that expanded my perception and cracked me up.
Like getting all philosophical for a second — if you think about it, every language is merely an inventive attempt to symbolize the essence of existence through synthesized sound and symbol. So why not invent fresh, unconventional ways to creatively capture and express the depth of that essence?
If oddball idea experiments like New Shu have taught me anything, it’s to not take language or perception too seriously. To find delight in the uncertainty, to celebrate the boundless mystery rather than reducing it to oversimplified absolutes.
How did this change my day-to-day life?
So have you ever tried making up your own silly language or symbolic code? Maybe blending whimsical doodles and inside jokes into a customized cryptogram? If not, I highly recommend it. At worst, you’ll kill some time in an amusingly bizarre way.
At best, you’ll revolutionize communication while blowing your own mind in the process. Either way, you’ll remind yourself that words and defined concepts will always be limited representations of the vibrant, ever-evolving spaciousness that is reality. Why not spend some time playing and revelling in that spaciousness through inventive, unrestrained expression? Who knows what surprising new perspectives you might uncover?
What do you think about my article?
Feel free to leave a comment.
I have woven tales to share, for any who care to read them. My books await you on Google Books. Check also my stories on Medium.com.
I am actively involved in helping to train AI models to become better writers. Therefore, I would be grateful to anyone who is in contact with this industry to recommend me to the right people. Thanks.
I would be honoured if you considered subscribing to the Premium Contents of my Vedanta Substack and leaving feedback, comments, and suggestions both on this page and by writing to me at cosmicdancerpodcast@gmail.com.
Visit my BuyMeACoffee page.
Thanks for reading.