I am frequently flummoxed by how inadequate language often is to the task of explicating experience. Take for example, UNESCO’s concept of ‘Intangible Heritage’. Now, I think I understand the concept of ‘intangible’ and of ‘heritage’. But UNESCO includes the following cultural expressions as forms of ‘Intangible Heritage’:
a. Oral traditions and expressions (including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage);
b. Performing arts;
c. Social practices, rituals and festive events;
d. Knowledge and practice about nature and the universe;
e. Traditional craftsmanship.
In what way are any of these expressions of heritage, intangible? One might argue that they are in some way or ways, ‘transient’ expressions of heritage but none are ‘intangible’ at the time they are happening. If experienced ‘second hand’, such events are invariably shared through some form of mediation such as filmic media, audio recording, physical drawing or sculpture. None of these mediations may considered ‘intangible’. Arguably even memory is not ‘intangible’: it is a biochemical and neurological process which becomes a physical ‘object of experience/memory’ stored and filed in an organic database (potentially subject to destruction in the case of physical injury, environmental insult, illness or some other form of trauma).
I know my opinion will count for very little but I think UNESCO might do well to reconsider its choice of words.
