Have you ever wondered why you say clip clop and not clop clip, ding dong, not dong ding, or dilly dally and not dally dilly? You might say, it just doesn't sound right and you will be correct in your statement. We all happen to know this rule without knowing it. According to the BBC, the operating but unsaid rule of language at work here is called Ablautreduplication.
The unsaid rule has it that if there are three words, they have to go in the order I, A, O. If there are two words, I is followed by either A or O.
This made me wonder about our sixth sense which tells us when something is 'wrong' inside or outside of us. A niggling feeling tells us a certain order, rule or pattern is just not right. Often, we can't name it, but we know it is there.
All our five senses individually, or together, contribute to producing these feelings similar to what happens in the case of Ablautreduplication. Notice how while listening to a piece of music, we feel it doesn't sound right?
Or when we see someone smile, we instinctively feel we can or cannot trust him/her?
Our sense of smell and taste too, are often trying to tell us that something is right or not right.
What contributes to this phenomenon? Is it an 'inner voice', a unconsciously trained instinct, or is it some wisdom gained from similar past experiences?
Whatever it maybe, but for now, I am just going to step back, take a deep breath and surrender and be in awe of that wondrous Creator who designed it all.
