What We Got Here Is A Failure To Communicate -- Writer Must Chose Words Carefully -- Sex, Love, Hate Are Hard To Define
Posted: Tuesday, September 25, 2007
by Marty RicKard
I am a writer. I love words.
Words are brushes which paint thoughts.
Words give the world pleasure and pain.
Most word pain is rooted in communication failure.
Even under ideal conditions, it is difficult to convey precise thoughts from brain to brain.
The problem begins when you select words you feel work best.
The best transmission can fail if the receiver is bad, visa-versa.
Word selection can vary: "I enjoyed the concert" might be, "he was a ‘real cool' singer" to your teenager, or, if you live in California , you might hear, "It was rad; I'm amped."
Unneeded words confuse, and should be cut. Recent examples of common superfluous verbiage are: From the Watergate trial, "at this point in time," which means "now". And from Bill Clinton: "We should do this sooner, rather than later," which means "soon".
An idea created in your brain is perfect at birth.
It is perverted by the words the transmitter selects.
Since we all have different backgrounds, the thought is further perverted as the receiver interprets.
Perhaps one or two of you have had clear, crisp statements misinterpreted by your spouse.
Age, environment, education and prejudice are but a few factors that influence word transmission and reception. And words change. Gay is an example.
What about slang? Recently I heard two new expressions: Salad dodger means obese person. Pass the bone means share the news.
Abstract words are difficult to define. Ask ten people to define "love", you get ten different answers. Same with hate, beauty, anger, religion.
Concrete words are less difficult. Doorknob, tire, tree or brick are easier to define, but definitions will still vary.
I have heard arguments when the opponents actually agree. Their thoughts were identical, but they tried to convince the other to use identical words.
We all have seen friendships destroyed by disagreements over words alone.
It would reduce conflict if debaters agree on semantics so they can channel the argument to thought or philosophy.
Considering the difficulty communicating with our own family and friends, it's easy to understand the added strife when we deal with foreign nations. Language translators add third-party diffusion. When we consider both the transmitter and receiver come from dissimilar cultures, half a world apart, it is amazing we ever come to terms internationally. It's amazing that we don't have more war.
Rather than sending Armies to fight when nations disagree, it has been suggested that our leaders fight one another. There would be fewer wars if Congress and presidents carried the weapons. Communications would improve.
Any discussion about communications sparks the memory of the politician asked about his stand on alcohol:
"If you mean that devil's brew, which deprives families of food, creates public problems, robs a man of his senses, shatters domestic tranquility, reduces a man's riches to rags, contributes to welfare rolls, causes unemployment, destroys health-then I am against it with every fiber of my body."
On the other hand, if you mean those gentle spirits which prompt humans to raise their voices in communal song, promote social harmony, lubricant the gears of friendship, serve as the blood on the communion altar, stimulate the appetite, and bring millions to our tax coffers to enable us to better educate our children, then I favor it with all my soul."
Ain't words wonderful?
Marty RicKard Bio
Marty RicKard attended William Penn College , Iowa State University and University of Southern Mississippi , from which he holds a BS degree in journalism and photojournalism. He also has a Masters Degree in photography. Marty was a technical writer for White Motor Company, and has worked for the Charles City Press, Mason City Globe-Gazette, and Davenport Times-Democrat. He owned New Sharon Star, where he was twice named Iowa Master Columnist. For ten years, Marty's regular column appeared in the Professional Photographer magazine. He has been published in many other magazines, including Golf Digest, Resource Magazine, Picture, Range Finder, and Darkroom. In addition to his writing credits, Marty has won numerous photography awards, has lectured in 48 states, and has traveled internationally as lecturer, and judge. He was one of thirty from the U.S. to participate in the first cultural exchange with China in 1986. He is a regular columnist for Lens Magazine, and a full-time writer of fiction and poetry. He has published three books, and is currently the editor of his local newspaper. He is an entertaining and inspirational speaker.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Not a wasted word in this article. You walk the walk.
I appreciate you joining my fan club thanks. Rodney.
First time I've had the chance to become acquainted with your work Marty. The point about abstract words is very true. Meanings are often ambiguous, even subject to misunderstanding - especially in cross-cultural settings.
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