Closing Remarks

Advice on language
Language is the key differentiator between homo sapiens and all other species. Whilst forms
of communication in some creatures such as dolphins are quite sophisticated, it is only
humans that can pass knowledge through generations using spoken, written and other
forms of recorded media. This skill has enabled us to evolve as the planet’s most intelligent
creature. Given the current state of the world with elections in the USA (Trump versus
Clinton), wars in the middle-east and economic crises, it is not a huge endorsement for our
intelligence; there must be other civilisations in the universe doing a bit better than us.
Anyway tonight’s advice is about the power of language; it can be more dangerous than
weapons. At a trivial level Farage had his nickname for Brexit and managed to mix it up in
national media and talk about ‘Breakfast’. Boris chose an interesting combination when he
declared that Brexit would be a Titanic success. The English medical representatives had
their own name for Jeremy Hunt and have to take great care not to mix up his surname with
their nickname when being interviewed on the national media.
However with all the chaos in the world, tonight’s advice is to celebrate our expertise with
language. The latest Nobel Prize for literature has been awarded to Bob Dylan and I have
chosen this verse to demonstrate the beauty and skill of this songwriter poet in this
descriptive verse from Mr Tambourine Man:
Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky
With one hand waving free
Silhouetted by the sea
Circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate
Driven deep beneath the waves
Let me forget about today until tomorrow