Language can be a virus with the spread of information, rumors and word of mouth that is essentially the same as the biological version.
A biological virus, by definition is simply a string of DNA or RNA surrounded by either a layer of lipid (fat) or protein.
The virus doesn’t really exhibit any signs of “life” until it attaches itself to a host cell.
Once attached, it replaces part of the host cell’s DNA with its own. The host stops what it was doing before and now has a new mission: make more viruses.
These fledgling viruses now float around until they attach to other cells and the process continues.
It’s a pretty scary thought when you think about it. A virus uses your own body against you in order to spread itself!
In the simplest sense, a virus is composed of two things:
1) A Program. The instructions are always “spread the virus”
2) A Delivery Mechanism. Sometimes they are delivered through the air (cough or sneeze). Sometimes they pass through simple skin to skin contact. Sometimes it requires an actual transmission of bodily fluids (you know who you are!)
Word of Mouth operates by essentially the same elements.
1) A Program. The program is simply the same, “spread the virus”. Word of mouth is happening all the time whether you like it or not, whether the message is good or bad.
2) A Delivery Mechanism. In the form of word of mouth, the delivery system is, well, words from your mouth.
How many times have you heard about something like a You Tube video going viral?
