[Note from Kevin — Tom, a 92-year-old friend of Pop’s for many years, wrote this after reading “Black Speak” but his response primarily concerns essays about “Country Speak,” of which I published an example very recently. Alternatively, view all of Pop’s essays on language here.]
 

In math sigma means the sum of. The limits for the sum of are noted at the two arms of sigma.
The sigma for each human includes each and every event from birth to the current moment for each human. Events include physical, mental, and emotional encounters during each and every increment of time between the sigma limits. Thus, no two sigmas can be alike even for identical twins.
The greater the number of events sigmas have in common, the more the ability to communicate effectively is enhanced. When language is not shared, communication becomes difficult and reduced to gestures, drawing and other non-verbal aids. The sigmas of countries interact similarly.

Ed,
Your hundreds of essays reveal much about you and touch on many events of your sigma; thus, creating linkages with the sigmas of those who read them.
For example, I was born and raised to adulthood in a country speak part of the country. So your essays about country speak create links with me and bring floods of memories of my early life.
I enjoy and appreciate your essays and read them at the first opportunity after they arrive. Thank you for sharing them with me. Regards and good wishes always,
Tom Scandlyn, August 31,2012
 
~~~
Kevin’s commentary: It is odd to comment on a comment, I feel. However I like the idea of publishing this style of long-form comment in the same way that blog posts may be published. So if you have those, please shoot ’em over to kevin.g.shepherd[at]gmail[dot]com.