Power Beyond Meaning1

It is said that a butterfly flapping its wings can cause a hurricane on the other side of the

world. In The Power of Words, Edgar Allen Poe explains why this is true. Any impulse

applied to the air changes the momentum of the air, which is then infidently expanded, till it

gave impulse to every particle of the earths air. So while the wingbeats themselves lack the

power of a hurricane, it is their cumulative effect that changes the conditions just enough to

make the formation of a previously impossible hurricane possible. It is indeed demonstrable that

every such impulse, given the air, must, in the end, impress every individual thing that exists

within the universe. And while I thus spoke, did there not cross your mind some thought of the

physical power of words? Is not every word an impulse on the air? This idea challenges the

mundane understanding of language. The study of language, writing, and words tends to focus

on one particular aspect- their meaning. When a reader encounters an unfamiliar word, they look

up its definition in a dictionary. When a reader reads a challenging piece of literature, they try

and discover the meaning of the sentences and paragraphs. This becomes the primary focus- a

reader will talk with others and try to translate the words into different words, all to understand

what it means. Or, they will look for specific pieces of evidence to match the meaning with their

own predetermined worldview, for example, that everything is drugs2. However, in doing so,

they overlook this fundamental aspect of the words themselves. Science fiction demonstrates that

words have power and have meaning beyond their ability to be understood. 345

1
Just as a heads-up, footnotes are included to increase your enjoyment of my paper. Please dont dock
points something like not taking the assignment seriously. I just want you to have a little fun.
2
However, everyone3 knows that this is absolutely true, so this is actually a bad example of forced
interpretation.
3
Me4
4
Yes, I just included a footnote in a footnote5
5
Yes, I just did it again4
 There exists a common sentiment that, if only everyone could understand one another,

than there would be no conflict. In the universe of the Hitchhikers Guide, the poor Babel fish,

by effectively removing all barriers to communication between different races and cultures, has

caused more and bloodier wars than anything else in the history of creation (Adams 60).

Through the Babel fish, perfect understanding and translation causes war, as there is no barrier of

deniability to hide your insults behind. Later in the book, Arthur Dent jokingly proclaims that I

seem to be having tremendous meaning with my life-style (Adams 196) At this moment, a freak

wormhole to another galaxy opens, sending his words to the middle of the final negotiation

between two species. Unfortunately, in the Vl'Hurgs6 tongue this was the most dreadful insult

imaginable7, and there was nothing for it but to wage terrible war of centuries (Adams 196). In

this case, it is a lack of understanig that leads to war. Mere knowledge of the dictionary

definition on planet Earth of the phrase is not enough to understand the words power. These two

cases present opposite cases on the effect of understanding the meaning of words. On one hand,

it is shown that perfect understanding of an alien language leads to war. On the other hand, a lack

of understanding will incite conflict as well. However, there is one common denominator- the

words exist. The meaning of the words is irrelevant, the fact that the disclosure existed is what

caused the conflict. This demonstrates how words themselves have to power to incite violence.

The mere incitement of violence is not the only way that words can hurt you. What is not

so readily apparent is that words themselves are able to hurt you. In Hitchhikers Guide, the

poetry of the Vogons6 exemplify this trait. Their poetry is worse than torture, merely hearing the

words recited induces spasms of excruciating pain in the listener. This effect happens any time

6 Apparently, this is included in the google doc default spell check dictionary. I guess nerds working for google have a lot of time on their hands. And are Adams fans.
7 Probably calling her a junkie
someone reads the poetry. This power to induce pain is inherent in the words, and there are real

life examples of this function as well. When a rock band is screaming in the room next to you, it

is the fact that they are speaking and not what they are saying that makes one cover their ears in

pain. And, when in a relationship comes to an end, no matter what the former significant other

says, it is the fact that the words are being spoken, not what exactly the words are, that causes the

heart to break.

When someone speaks, their words have the ability to provide more meaning that simply

what is being said. This reading between the lines is a trait of Doro from the Octaiva Butlers

Wild Seed. His voice has the power to identify him. Even in-universe, from the standpoint of an

outsider, there should be no way to recognize him in a new body without carefully observing his

habits. After all, the physical nature of his existence is entirely new. But, that is not the case.

When he takes control of a new body, that of a child:

The child spoke calmly, quietly in his own language, but as Anyanwu heard him, she

thought she would scream aloud. The child was Doro. There was no doubt about it

There was no sound of the man Doro had been. Anyanwu did not understand what she

was hearing, what she was recognized in the boys voice. (Butler 33)

The words Doro says have the power to identify him to anyone who heard him speak before. It is

an inherent nature of his words, something he cannot explain. While this may seem odd to

readers, is it something to which everyone can relate. When one hears the voice of a friend from

behind, or reads a favorite author, regardless of the words, they can identify the speaker. Wild

Seed shows that this identification is not physical, it is a result of the very identity of the speaker,

as if they put a bit of themselves into every word they write.

themselves on a word, it is the other way around. The words are what shapes a person. The film

Arrival presents words this way. In this film, an arriving alien species offers humans its

language, because its non-linearity with respect to time possesses a power. By understanding

these words, one receives that same non-linear temporal perception.8 This is a power of the

words, not their meaning.9 It is not received when one merely understands the definitions of the

words. It is only when one thinks and dreams in that language, when they take it in fully,

understand it beyond the meaning, that this power is granted.

The power of words beyond their meaning exists in science fiction from its earliest days,

all the way to books coming out today. This is because this hidden meaning aligns itself with the

purpose of science fiction as a whole. When it tells of the monopole magnet mining operations or

a brain in the jar, it is rarely just about that story. It is the second meaning, the lesson behind the

story that cannot be put into words, that is important. The hard part is explaining this undefinable

lesson with mere words.10

8 It is not just words that can do it- see Drugs, everything is