Prime Language

Description

Zak Walsh:

"A core question is how to facilitate the highest level of collective intelligence with groups whose members have different core beliefs, languages, and cultural values. Ferananda Ibarra, co-director of the Commons Engine, shared how using “prime language” helps us remain open to a variety of conflicting, ontological standpoints. To practice prime language, you eliminate the verb “to be.” This allows you to speak from your experience without invalidating other possible experiences. We need to be mindful not to discuss theories of existence as if they represent the only truth. Lieselotte Viaene, an anthropologist at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, said the verb “to be” in fact does not exist among the indigenous peoples she’s been working with." (https://cdn6.commonsstrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Zack-Walsh_Ontology-as-a-Hidden-Driver-of-Politics_def2.pdf?)