VERBA VOLANT, SCRIPTA MANENT

Abstract

Verba volant, scripta manent.
The famous Latin proverb, „Verba volant, scripta manent” adapted to the idea that „Words fly away written ones remain” or rediscovered in its original version with its diametrically opposite meaning, „Scripta manet, verba volant”  retextualized by the necessities of the times in the formula the „(Spoken) words fly away, but written ones remain (forgatten)”, in one way or another, both supporters and opponents of each of the variants pronounce on the dematerialization, in the time’s dust of the enchanted speech, or immersed in the brass of time of the graphic principle. Rhetoric or redaction? In all types of human communication, winged words or perennial signs, like polished diamonds, that are worn to ensure our evolution. We are, moreover, the universal successors of an immaterial heritage inherent to human nature - the „rational animal” (zōon logon ekhon), a reflection of the neocortex that is the discursive element in everything that defines our belonging to this world, an eminently social being (zoon politikon), creator of destinies - „In the beginning was the word!” and of miracles - „Sweet speech, much good it does!” The deliberate circumvention of the written word by quarantine of graphic signs for the precious purpose of preserving a mechanism of spiritual evolution, as it appears in Socrates, is fair and perennial. At the same time, the social dimension of the zōon politikon fulfilled the necessary and sufficient conditions for the promotion of perfected communication in documents. Also, the synonymous representation of a language with a nation depicts in words the struggle for freedom and unity, a treasured glory - „memories of another time”, the troubled thrill of a vox populi, vox Dei.