The sound of the feeling that cannot be spoken

granta.com

71 points·community··5 comments

What a terrible story.

Also, what a excellent way to demonstrate the problems that arise in communication.

There's always a language barrier even if all parties speak the same language. And yet we try to explain anyway.

I recently heard someone say that there is no opposite for the word 'trauma' in the English language, which shows that we have done an okay job describing human emotion.

You could argue that words like 'ecstasy' are the opposite but they don't denote a lasting effect like 'trauma' does. The real opposite concept is 'healing', I guess.

I'm interested in the differences between opposites and inverses here. Trauma denotes a destructive change in some equilibrium, and healing inverts that. What is opposite of that disruption though? Is it growth?

Interesting thoughts about "trauma."

I like "healing." Perhaps "a healing." (While it's certainly not an opposite to trauma) it also reminds me of "catharsis." Although I guess catharsis is a letting go of feeling; "a healing," I suppose, would be closer to wabi-sabi.

I would propose something like the Buddhist notion of "equanimity" in that you cannot be internally perturbed by external stimuli, whereas with trauma the afflicted person cannot help but be perturbed.

Another story that runs along similar lines.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/06/01/5298768...

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