Reading Maurice Merleau-Ponty's The Phenomenology of Perception (original) (raw)

This text explores the developmental process of language acquisition in children, emphasizing the cumulative nature of experience where each new situation builds upon past ones, resonating with Merleau-Ponty's concept of the 'speaking subject'. It argues that communication involves continuous transformation and stylization of one's appearance and behaviors, which serve to express one's identity and facilitate relationships. Through understanding the interplay of past experiences and the present moment, the text highlights the importance of modulation in communication, suggesting that recognition in relationships is contingent upon a reflective awareness of one's history and continuous adaptation in social interactions.