Welcome to Lexis Librorum, a blog about books & libraries. The name is a mashup of words from different languages (Latin and Greek in this case) that have an inherent conflict between singular and plural expression—a metaphor, if you like, of life in a library.

lex-is n. [Gr. < λέξις,  speech, diction, word, text]

lib-ror-um n. pl. [L. < liber,  a book, volume, catalogue, letter]

According to a popular, online encyclopedia, Aristotle argued that two forms of lexis exist:

Lexis graphike is the most precise style of rhetoric and strongly appeals to intelligence. The delivery of lexis graphike is designed for a careful reading from either the book or paper as opposed to a performance that leaves room for improvisation. This type of lexis is a simple, straight forward recitation rather than an elaborate presentation…. Lexis agonistike contradicts lexis graphike because it is typically carelessly written and meant for a full performance. The lack of attention given to the written words allows the performer to improvise. This gives the presentation a style that reflects the entertainer rather than the writer.

That characterization suggests that lexis is inherently performative, which makes blogging—writing texts for public consumption—a performative act. And I think it implies that I very well could be simultaneously acting as author and interpreter. Be that as it may, I’ll leave it to you, dear reader, to decide if my words are of the graphike or agonistike variety.