Topic Tuesday #165 2015/09/15 "If You Can't Say Anything Nice..."

Topic Tuesday #165 2015/09/15 "If You Can't Say Anything Nice..."

You've heard it. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. I am typically against this line of thought, but when I have not nice things to say, I try to have the discussion  warranted rather than just shout into the open. Sometimes that is possible. Somethings it is not your choice to make. Other times, life happens. 

There's always room for jello.

I am reminded this day that no matter how clearly you consider your statements., no matter how clear and erudite your arguments, someone will not understand. Someone will be offended. Something can always go wrong, because communication is a remarkably complex thing among humans. I can say, "lemon jello" and most of you will actually think of the jello in your mouth, the taste of the lemon, the texture of it. Some of you will be happy, others will be disgusted. How would I know? If it my fault if you were disgusted by my statement of "lemon jello?" Should I care?

I don't think I should care, at least not deeply. If you are offended by something I say, and it was not specifically about you by name, that is not my problem. That is your interpretation of the words I have said representing the thoughts in my head.  If you think the thoughts in my head should change, then you too can use your words to put ideas into my head and change them. It is a marketplace of ideas, and I hope the best idea wins, even if it is not my idea.

Topic Tuesday #113 2014/09/16 "Originality"

Topic Tuesday #113 2014/09/16 "Originality"

Continuing the theme of language and communication, today let's chat about being original. 

In ye olde times when language was young and the populace was largely illiterate it was remarkably flexible. Words would flow from mouth to ear thus changing the way they sounded the next time they were uttered. By where and whom a phrase was spoken, would inflict the culture of the region on the meaning of the words used. Slowly technology stepped in to slow down the diverging babble. The jeweler Gutenberg and his typeset press made it so language had permanence. Most notable is the Bible. So much of our language today is derived from this tomb that it is easy to reconcile its lasting nature as a cultural cornerstone. Other works followed the scriptures.

Outside of this, as people become slowly more literate, a new concept was born out of an old tradition. Literary license. At the Globe Theatre in London, William Shakespeare (or Christopher Marlowe or  Francis Bacon, if you believe such conspiracies) wrote a volume of work that stands to this day as remarkable. Hit turn of phrase was without match and what really sets him apart in my mind is his inventiveness at creating new words. All in all, he crafted over 1,700 of our modern words. He verbed nouns, turned verbs into adjectives and cobbled together prefixes and suffix that had not business being wedded to prior words. When that failed to suit the needs he would manifest them from nothing and create something wholly original. For some in depth analysis of some of these, browse over to www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/wordscoined.html Some examples of my favorite Shakespearian words, which you might not have known owe their origin to the playwrite and master poet: 

Arouse, Addiction, amazement, bedroom, blushing, circumstantial, champion, dauntless, compromise, eyeball, gossip, gloomy, luggage, jaded, hint, fixture, obscene, laughable, grovel, scuffle, swagger, majestic, mimic, outbreak, radiance, obsequiously, and one of my all time favorites, rant.

The reconstructed Globe Theatre, London.

Obviously not everyone can be so original, but one must also look at the context for how Shakespeare's magic words were seeded into the vox populi. He relied on word of mouth, at the Globe, to spread the words and their meanings to the people, the common people. They entered everyday use rather quickly, being the cool thing to do at the time. It wouldn't take long for that to happen given how quickly our own society parrots whatever the best one liners were from the latest Saturday Night Live or blockbuster flick.In his day, his words were like a virus, and the contagion infected the language and peppers our pages today. He was bold and original and then made permanent in the mind and in print.  

I say this to you, be generous with your words. make then varied and vaulting. If you cannot find a word that fits, MAKE ONE UP! Be original. Make Shakespeare proud.

Topic Tuesday #110 2014/08/26 "The Power of Words"

Topic Tuesday #110 2014/08/26 "The Power of Words"

Over the last couple weeks I have been discussing word use with friends and my children. There are magical words in the world tat when used properly can pander to favorable outcomes, or conversely, get you into some serious trouble.
My 6 year old has become fond of a negative word, "hate". I am trying hard to tell her to save that word for things that are actually worthy of it. Hate is a powerful word. I dare say it is more powerful, properly used, than any obscenity you can imagine. All someone has to do to ruin your day and forever alter your perception of them is to utter a magical incantation. Be careful how you use this, and use it sparingly. Here it is. "I hate, you!"
Thankfully this incantation has not been directed my way, by my offspring. But it could. I want her to know the meaning behind that word and many others. It is hard since the dictionary only give definitions, and not visceral meanings behind words, phrases and colloquialisms.
Take another powerful and clumsily wielded word, "crazy".
To the average person, this is a basic word used to describe something that happened, or possibly the actions and demeanor of another person, or their own actions while getting wild or something along those lines. To those that are suffering mental illness, that word is a label of personal failure. This is unfortunate and perhaps we can attempt to be more sensitive. Some people have decided to own their crazy. They wear it as a badge of distinction and like a calling card.
Here's the thing about words. They all have meanings. The interesting words have a rich history. Derogatory and inflammatory remarks are just words with an idea behind them. The question you have to ask yourself is if being offended matters.
I suggest that it does not matter in the least. If someone tries to get under your skin, if you let them, they win. It was their game, and they made you play and made you lose. Don't play other people's games. Being offended is up to the one that is offended. It does not affect anyone else, unless they have to deal with you while you are offended. It can be hard to let these slights go, but you win their game if you do.
Offending people is a bitter and childish things to do. It makes you a very small person with equally small ideas. That said, I'm sure I have offended people. I don't particularly care about that. Offending a group of people does not concern me, especially when all I am doing is expressing a viewpoint. On a one to one basis, I never want to hurt anyone. I choose my words in ways that remove personal allusions. If you offend the person you are talking to you are no longer having a conversation, you are doing damage control and you fail whatever your mission was.
Elevate your language and respect the individual. But remember, it is up to you to be offended by the power of words.