If we are going to talk about the evolution of writing
we should perhaps point out
that it seems to work pretty much the same way
that the evolution of human beings has worked.
That is to say
that both the DNA
that has propelled our own evolution
and writing itself
these are both predicated upon language
they're both based upon language.
One of them is a language with
in the case of English, 26 letters.
In the case of DNA, it's only got four letters.
But both of those forms
are capable, apparently, of endless permutations
with innumerable dead ends
but with occasional tremendous breakthroughs
both in the case of ordinary biological evolution
and in the evolution of writing and language.
Yes, and all of this stuff, all of this evolution
is entirely to the ends
of creating a more perfectly adapted form.
Now, when you're talking about the evolution of writing
you're talking both about your personal evolution
as a writer
and as the evolution of writing as a field.
I would remind you
of our opening statements in this
where we said that writing
back in the Palaeolithic period
where we were just coming to terms
with language and the human consciousness
that resulted from it
we were saying
that writing became our foremost means
of modifying human consciousness itself.
So, I would like to welcome you
as an aspiring writer
to this enormously important and timeless human tradition
where you will be in a chain of people
stretching back through the ages
of shamans, magicians, above all, writers
who have...
done so much
to actually shape the development
of the human story, and of human history.
That you can become part of that marvellous tradition
and play your own part
however small, however large
in this marvellous enterprise
of expanding the things that humans can do
can say, can accomplish
and, more importantly
the number of ways
in which they can talk about that stuff.
The number of things that they can say
and the number of ways in which they can say it.