In reading this chapter I noted that a number of ideas presented in the preceding chapters are repeated, but differently, and in a different context.  This is beginning to give me a sense of circularity and that I might, for this second time of reading, experience the book as an increasing and expanding spiral.

The chapter bears the title, Language, Truth and Music, but interestingly, McGilchrist says little about truth in these pages. There is more reference to truth in the preceding chapters. Here, the sentence that stands out in reference to truth is that words can easily hide the truth, but non-verbal communication can not. This seems an important point to me, but it has rather got lost in the focus on language and music.

Right at the beginning of this chapter McGilchrist tells us that the model or metaphor we choose to understand the world, determines what we find. This made me wonder how he came up with the Master and his Emissary metaphor, whether he considered any other metaphors, and whether the whole question of the balance between the right and left hemispheres might have been interpreted differently.

Some aspects of this chapter have been difficult to grasp (oh the irony of using that word!), particularly the section on metaphor. I have noted in my book (which is written all over, covered with highlights and underlined sentences, and so used that I am having to resort to sellotaping the pages to keep them from falling out), that the section starting on p.118 - Language Rooted in the Body - is a powerful section. This is the key point that McGilchrist is trying to make - that language is not only a function of the left hemisphere, associated with syntax, vocabulary, etc., but that all the subtleties of language, non-verbal language and communication, emotion, humour, irony and metaphor, are associated with the right hemisphere. As such, language is embodied.

But what an incredibly difficult point to make and get across, because there’s no getting away from the fact that he has had to use the left hemisphere to write this chapter.

I am wondering if I have found the section on metaphor difficult to follow, because it is difficult to engage the right hemisphere when writing notes on a book chapter. There is of course (unlike in the previous chapter) no evidence that McGilchrist can draw on to substantiate his claims about metaphor, other than to draw on the work of other thinkers. I think I would have liked a bit more help from him in this section. I would have liked something a bit more concrete, but then that’s my left hemisphere ‘talking’.

The rest of the chapter is easier to follow. I think he makes a good case for gesture and music preceding language, drawing on animal studies, and research into handedness. And it makes perfect sense to me that language is embodied. I can relate that to my own experience.

At the end of the chapter, McGilchrist makes the strong point that the left hemisphere deliberately inhibits the right hemisphere, but if the left hemisphere really does have this capability, how can we ever prevent left hemisphere dominance?

(An aside for our times: It is interesting to observe how in these times of COVID-19, groups around the world are resorting to group music, exercise and dance activities, albeit virtually, to enhance their sense of community).

Continue to:

• Chapter 4: The Nature of the Two Worlds

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