FOOD FOR LANGUAGE.

What is Food for Language? (言語にとって食とはなにか) is a new blog (by Brian of New Haven) that focuses on things Japanese, including Tanizaki on Japanese Orthography, a Tokyo cafe tthat’s a “conceptual mess” but has a great breakfast special, and Japanese approaches to Chinese poetry. The last displays Brian’s nicely judged rhetorical style:

As is well known, Ernest Fenollosa’s “The Chinese written character as a medium for poetry” is the single most fantastic, least accurate thing that has been written on the subject…

Of course, the best part about the Japanese school, as others before me have noted, is that Fenollosa’s essay (or at least Pound’s recension of it) contains only one complete poem, and it is Japanese. The poem (which begins 月耀如晴雪) is the first item in the collection of Sugawara no Michizane, who records that he wrote it for a class assignment when he was eleven.

A quick hook to the jaw, and it’s all over. I’d be glad to share a pizza (at Pepe’s, of course) with this guy next time I’m in New Haven, and I thank No-sword for bringing the blog to my attention.

Comments

  1. I won’t say that Sally’s is better, I’ll just say that whenever I go to New Haven Pepe’s seems to be closed so Sally’s has to be my default choice.
    Between Louis’ Lunch for burgers, Pepe’s and Sally’s for pizza and the Doodle for pigs-in-a-blanket New Haven is clearly America’s capital for informal unhealthy dining, the city deserves far more credit nation-wide than it gets.
    And a very interesting looking blog too, thanks for pointing it out.

  2. Between Louis’ Lunch for burgers, Pepe’s and Sally’s for pizza and the Doodle for pigs-in-a-blanket New Haven is clearly America’s capital for informal unhealthy dining, the city deserves far more credit nation-wide than it gets.
    Amen!

  3. Thanks so much for the very flattering post!
    I try not to take sides in pizza disputes, but I will say that an egg sandwich from the Doodle is the only way to start your day.

  4. Brian: are you a student?

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