Words matter. So does the intent, action, and implications when you choose them.
I have something of a love affair with words.
As a child, I was a voracious reader. I loved having books to read, and I always enjoyed picking up something new to expand my knowledge and imagination.
I started to write my own words at age nine. Wildfire was the result – my first completed work, 50 pages of illustrated science fiction.
Over the next three-and-a-half decades there were periods of sporadic wordsmithing and full-blown writing frenzies. As a pantser (remember that there are planners and pantsers – or those who plot it all out ahead of time vs those who write by the seat of their pants) when I am in the flow words happen.
It turns out that the genre doesn’t matter. Whether I am working on fiction or articles such as this, they need to be brought forth and shared.
It’s not simply about what I am creating, no matter the given topic. It’s the formation of these incredible conveyances of ideas. One word can empower or disempower. Words can have multiple meanings, even in a single sentence.
Factor in words from other languages and this gets even more colorful and fantastic.
Words matter. What you choose, the context and implications can mean the difference between understanding and misunderstanding. And there are always so many choices and options.
Choose your words with care
I am an unabashed lover of big words. I also am a fan of semi-obscure words and phrases as well. But it is important to consider why you choose those you choose.
There are numerous people who like to throw out big words in order to come across as intelligent. They don’t use them in any other context but to sound smart. There is something to be said for that, I suppose. Yet, I don’t know about you, but I can tell when it’s a façade.
For example, in written words, there is a flow to sentence structure. In the proper use of bigger words, they feel like they belong to the sentence. Tossed in to add an impression of extra intelligence they look and read a bit out of place.
Let me illustrate this here: His responses were monosyllabic flows, whereas he was answering the questions in a monosyllabic way does not. The former uses the word contextually and succinctly while the latter just drops it in.
This tends to be even more obvious when spoken. Spoken words ebb and flow from every speaker, intelligent or otherwise. When a word is said that breaks the flow of their sentence structure and includes a change in tone and timbre of their voice it’s pretty obvious – at least to me.
Don’t get me wrong, I am all for expanding your vocabulary. But there is a difference between using words with a love for them versus using them to seem smarter. You can usually tell when someone is making the effort to expand their lexicon versus dropping in big, complicated words and phrases to feel superior only for themselves.
Empowering or disempowering
Words and phrases can lift people up or knock them down. This applies to even simple terms and words.
President Trump loves to knock people down with simple, negative words to make them look bad. “Crooked Hillary” and “Shifty Schiff” are perfect examples of his childish, schoolyard name-calling. In his effort to disempower his opposition he enjoys tossing out bullying phrases as any 12-year-old boy would.
Because of his use of simple phrases like these his followers, the majority of whom are not users of big words, feel like he is one of them. They think he gets them, which is why his manic rants resonate with them. And he’s dynamic and charismatic enough to have them all fooled into thinking he’s one of them – when nothing could be further from the truth.
This is why it’s important to recognize your audience as a writer or speaker. If you use complicated words and phrases for a simpler audience you will unintentionally come across as condescending. Nobody likes to be condescended to.
This is part of why and how words take on so many different meanings. Because perception is unique to everyone it’s hard to say what impression you will have, no matter your intent.
What you can be mindful of is if your words empower or disempower. Are you offering solutions or expounding on problems? Is the delivery of your words positive or negative? It all matters.
Be pure in your intent
No matter what you have chosen, know your intent when you share them. Do you want to stir people to action or scare them? Inspire or dissuade? Raise up or knock down? All the words you use can have these powers within them.
This is especially important to be mindful of today. Intellectualism and information have gone from being celebrated to suspect. There are those who see elitists among intellectuals, which has been furthered by asshole leaders trying to maintain and expand their own power bases.
Hence why intent is important. Whatever words you choose, simple or complex, they can do a lot of good or a lot of harm. Knowing what intent you have with them is important.
Mindfulness is a part of any art. The painter puts their thoughts and feelings into the canvass they show the world. The sculptor molds clay with hands and heart. The writer shares their ideas and emotions through words and phrases. The arts are the actions tied to the awareness of the thoughts and feelings – mindfulness.
Words matter. So does the intent, action, and implications when you choose them. I share my words in whatever genre I choose because I love words and all that they can do for you, me, and the world at large.
Thank you for letting me share my words with you.
Thank you for taking part in my ongoing journey. I appreciate you joining me, and for inspiring me and my words.
This is the forty-fifth article exploring the creative process. Please take a moment to check out the collection of my published works, which can be found here.
Feel free to explore the rest of the website, which I am working to evolve and change for the better…much like I am doing for myself. Also, visit Awareness for Everyone to check out my weekly podcasts.
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