Speech vs. Writing
Derrida describes the concept of "arche-writing" as a "primal scene" or "origin myth" that underlies all forms of writing. This imagery serves several purposes in Derrida's argument. First, it helps to convey the centrality and importance of arche-writing, suggesting that it is a fundamental principle that shapes and determines all forms of writing. Second, it evokes the idea of an ancient and forgotten origin, which ties into Derrida's broader argument about the way that language is always already "haunted" by the past and the way that writing is a "trace" of thought. Third, the use of the term "myth" suggests that arche-writing is not a scientifically verifiable fact, but rather a culturally and historically constructed idea that has taken on a life of its own.
Viral Language
Derrida compares language to a "virus" that infects and transforms thought. This vivid imagery highlights the way that language is always already contaminated by other meanings and associations and suggests that it has a powerful and insidious influence on our thinking and understanding. The use of the term "virus" also implies that language is a kind of disease or contagion that spreads and mutates over time, and that it is difficult to contain or control. This imagery ties into Derrida's broader argument about the way that language is always already "infected" by other forms of meaning, such as writing and speech, and the way that it is never pure or self-contained.
Traces of Thought
Derrida describes writing as a "trace" of thought, suggesting that it is a kind of imprint or residue left behind by the process of thinking. This imagery conveys the idea that writing is a record or representation of thought, but also highlights the way that it is always incomplete and partial. The use of the term "trace" suggests that writing is a kind of vestige or ghost of thought, which implies that it is both present and absent at the same time. This imagery ties into Derrida's broader argument about the way that language is always haunted by the past and the way that writing is a kind of "haunt" that returns to disrupt the present.
Trapped Language
Derrida compares the relationship between speech and writing to a "double bind," evoking the image of a trap or paradox that is difficult to escape. This imagery serves to illustrate the tension and interdependence between these two forms of language, and to challenge traditional ideas about the superiority of speech over writing. The image of a double bind suggests that speech and writing are both necessary and destructive in equal measure, and that it is impossible to fully escape the influence of either one. This imagery challenges traditional ideas about speech as a natural and authentic form of language and suggests that it is always already contaminated by the influence of writing. At the same time, the image of a double bind suggests that it is impossible to fully escape the influence of either speech or writing, and that both forms of language are necessary and destructive in equal measure.
