Second Coming the novel: Extending the Entertainment

What is the origin of language?

In the novel, Paul Genet tells his story to the abbot of a monastery he seeks to join. After Paul finishes, the abbot asks Paul questions to further help decide whether to admit him or not. Here, Paul discusses the origin of language. —Editor

Abbot: What is the origin of language?

Paul: Linguist Noam Chomsky says language is a peculiarly human phenomenon. Why is that?

It is because no other species has the human capacity for self-awareness. Self-awareness is what happens when we perceive ourselves as separate from others (subject-object split). This is the first step in the origin of language.

Once we are self-aware, we simply assign names to self and others using sounds we make with our vocal cords. The final step is to signify the relationships between the objects we’ve named. Grammar is the name we give this signification.

Aware-unaware—the binary nature of Paul’s universe

‘Second Coming’ protagonist, Paul Genet, answers questions about his universe:

What is time?

Why is there something rather than nothing?

Does life exist elsewhere in the universe?

Will there ever be a coherent theory of quantum gravity?

Is the universe a computer?

Are superstrings the theory of everything?

Is Schrödinger's cat both alive and dead in a balanced quantum universe?

Does God exist in the balanced universe of Paul Genet?

What is the true nature of existence?