I think I can flesh out the definition of Hapax a bit, although someone with a knowledge of Latin could probably contribute more (I believe it translates as 'said once'). It is my understanding that a 'hapax legomenon' is a word or reference from a document, generally in a dead language or writing system, to which we have found only one reference. For example, if archeologists found a new hieroglyph that was never used anywhere else, it would be impossible to determine exactly what it would mean since your context clues are so limited. This idea of indeterminate meaning permiates The Falls, of course. So my best guess is that the VUE-language 'hapax legomenia' is made up of words each used only once!

VFI secretary's coment:

Sean's findings raise more questions than they answer. What, for example, are we now to make of Bird Raspara Fallicutt's project to translate Bardin's catalogue of VUE Pornography into Hapaxlegomenia? Comments, etc., are invited

Coments:

1. Sean Redlitz:
   One interpretation is that this is a joke on the poor quality of written pornography, using the same trite cliches and terms over and over. Pornography written in a language comprised of words used only once would be rather unlike any pornography presently known. Moreover, the uniqueness of H.L. words would no doubt be a distraction, interfering with the reader's ability to become aroused.

   By way of example, imagine a pornographic film in which each successive shot was composed in such a unique and original manner that the viewer would have to study it carefully in order to figure out exactly what was being depicted. Even after careful study, there would still be a great deal of amibguity as to the contents of each shot due to a lack of proper context clues. This filmic example only scratches the surface of novelty and ambiguity present in a work of pornography written in HapaxL. Written language is (at least) two levels of abstraction further removed from "reality" than visual pornography: written language is an abstraction of spoken language which is an arbitrary collection of sounds designed to represent perceived reality which may or may not reflect "real" reality. Or something like that. (see: Semiotics)

   In conclusion, I would be willing to guess that the never-ending novelty of Hapax Legomena would result in a written work of sufficient abiguity and distraction as to be antithetical to the customary function of pornography.

2. VFI secretary:
   Sean states, or implies, that visual images are closer to reality than both speech and writing. The problem with such a statement is that it rests on the assumption that the real can be disclosed to consciousness directly and without mediation, against which the different sign systems (visual, speech, writing) can be compared. However, just as there cannot be a signified without a signifier, so there can be no unmediated access to the real outside historically variable systems of representation within which that real is constructed (see: post-structuralism / deconstruction). Two things occur to me about the paragraphs I've just written:
   • Is this what pornography reads like in hapaxlegomenia?
   • Isn't this, in a quite real sense, the subject of The Falls?

3. Sean Redlitz:
   Here's an idea: in English, a picture is worth a thousand words - in hapaxlegomena a word is worth an infinite number of pictures.

4. VFI Secretary:
   I'll drink to that!

If you wish to contribute to this discussion please e-mail your comments to paul.melia@btinternet.com.

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