Date: Wed, 07 Oct 1998 23:28:42 +0900
From: chris drake <ccdrake-AT-sannet.ne.jp>
Subject: Re: Meaning


Dear Michael and Jim,

Thanks very for taking the time to share your thoughts. There is a lot
for me to think about in what you wrote. The notion of winking is
very, very suggestive. As for the relevance of Heidegger's conclusion
that 'kotoba' can mean 'Ding,' I feel that it must have relevance to
the "Conversation," just as Heidegger's essay on "The Thing" must be
relevant to the "Conversation." I went through the Herz translation to
get some examples for you, but the English there wobbles for me at
crucial places. I'll try to get a German text if I can find one and go
through it slowly. The connection of 'kotoba' with 'Ding,' however, is
not standard in Japanese, I believe, except, perhaps, among Shinto
priests (and at least one poet I happen to know!). That doesn't
diminish Heidegger's point, of course, but to me it does seem to say
"Caution" about any alignment of an historical society, culture, or
national language with thinking of being. I'll try to formulate my
uneasiness a little more clearly for you after I think about your
messages some more.   
It's wonderful to hear that Kuki's book on 'iki' has been translated.
Jim, you seem to know Japanese. How about translating it into English?

Thanks again,

Chris




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