糖心破解版

Words sometimes appear to be mere shadows, capable only of inaccurately representing reality. For instance, consider the case where I say to a friend, “This cake isn’t very sweet.” Although I intended to express the sentiment positively, my friend may have interpreted it as a complaint of insufficient sweetness. Such discrepancies in understanding frequently occur in social networking services (SNS), where interactions are often mediated by short texts and symbols.
 
Moreover, the contemporary SNS environment enables instantaneous dissemination of individual utterances, often producing social consequences far beyond the speaker’s original intent. For example, suppose someone, displeased by a store clerk’s attitude, posts a protest on an SNS. That post may then be widely “reposted,” “shared,” or “liked,” resulting in an unexpected flood of criticism toward the store. Conversely, the original poster may become the target of counterarguments or attacks by those supporting the store. Even when the protest is factually grounded and criticism is not inherently unreasonable, the escalation often exceeds all proportions, leaving the speaker unable to control the spread of their words.
 
Language permeates nearly every aspect of our lives, and living without it is virtually impossible. However, language itself frequently introduces conflicts into daily life. Verbal communication is inherently imprecise and incomplete. In an attempt to achieve mutual understanding through words, we inevitably create space for misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and unintended consequences.
 
Is language truly a “medium” that connects us to others, or is it a “barrier” that separates us? Does it represent a source of hope that expands our possibilities, or is it an uncontrollable force that constrains and sways us? Is it both, or perhaps neither?
 
This book explores the multifaceted nature of language. In doing so, it seeks to illuminate the distinctive features and pitfalls of linguistic practice and considers how we should engage with language. Because language is so deeply embedded in everyday life, we rarely pause to ask, “What is language?” Reexamining this familiar tool provides a new perspective on language itself. This, in turn, provides an opportunity to discover new facets of our daily lives that are inextricably linked with language, and ultimately, new aspects of ourselves.
 

(Written by FURUTA Tetsuya, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology / 2025)