Article 4: Weight in Letters
By Ellora Reddy
We are gifted with words. Language allows us to express our thoughts, to share knowledge to help people better understand the world. Authors like Václav Havel, George Orwell, and Emily Martin all wrote works centered on the change in words and the power words holds. “The Egg and the Sperm: How Science Has Constructed a Romance Based on Stereotypical Male-Female Roles” discusses how even in science textbooks the way in which a statement is worded can unfairly paint a fact in a positive or negative light. Orwell’s essay “Politics and the English Language” discusses how the English language is becoming a dulled tool due to its misuse. “A Words about Words” written by Havel, highlights the importance of practicing the freedom in expressing one’s thoughts. For better or for worse words can change the way we see things. As a result, when we choose to express our thoughts it is important we pick our word choices wisely. Overtime, abusing a word can ruin the word’s original meaning as well as the truth behind the idea we are describing. Freedom of expression is important: it does not justify the reckless misuse of words as thoughtless sentences can destroy the original meaning of the word, which leads to an unclear definition. Misuses of words in describing facts harms the language that connects us; however, individuals must not limit themselves to write but instead monitor what they write. This essay will discuss how words can be misused, resulting either in the loss of the word’s value or the word of the word’s meaning. It will also explore how improper use can paint a concept in a misleading light, and how expression is important to be practiced. The purpose of this essay is to raise the awareness that we should practice and carefully think about every word we use and we should choose quality over quantity when we share our thoughts socially and academically.
How can words be misused? Words are designed to be expressed in a variety of ways. Similar to a palette of paint, words to writers are like colors with painters because, they are given the power to pick and mix the infinite spectrum of words provided by the English language to express their ideas. Words like the warmth coming from a fireplace can invoke feelings of welcoming, and comfort. The very same word, depending on how it is used, can make the reader’s stomach turn over if the warmth comes from blood seeping out of a jagged wound. With such flexibles meaning, it is easy to lose sight of the correct meaning of words. We become obsessed with the abstract, obsessed with idea of being flashy in our word choices to the point we lose the ability to tell the difference between the reds and blues., If a person uses the word, “warmth” to describe cool ice for his own selfless need to attract the attention of possible readers, for sure, he taints the original meaning of the word warmth. Over time more people will become used to the word warmth being associated with ice which is the opposite of its original meaning. This is just one imagined example of how easy it is to misuse words. Just as Orwell points out that a word being misused to the point where its original meaning becomes murky is the word fascism, “The word Fascism now no meaning except in so far as it signifies ‘something not desirable.” Depending on how the words are manipulated, one could tell whether the signifier is desirable or not. If you read on the front of a newspaper in bold text, Person A describes Person B as fascist, obviously Person A lacks the understanding of the word, fascist. Politicians misuse words on purpose hoping to line their propaganda in favour of the people who read it. Too often this happens in contemporary times no matter whether it is through social media or commercial media, simply trying to attract others attention.
Why should we be mindful when expressing our selves with words? It can be hard to grasp the severity of the damage that the casual abuse of words can have on the entire language. This problem does not lie with singular words alone. We often use popular phrases and metaphors to the point that we take it for granted that they produce meaning of what they have said. The phrase does not need to fit because the goal of using language is to just trick the reader into thinking. Though when a reader puts thought into the word, adding a popular saying makes what is being read seems more relevant, but in truth it is just a call for undeserved attention. If something is written out then it automatically works, it is this type of mindset as explained by Orwell “This mixture of vagueness and sheer incompetence is the marked characteristic of modern English prose”. We are hurting ourselves by paying little regarded to how we are saying things. It is not quality over quantity in the case of the constant misuse of words in the modern day it is instead quality over captivation. Meanings of words become muddled, and with the over saturation of flashy words makes it hard to distinguish what is truly important and what is an advisement for toothpaste.
Words can be associated with more than its direct meaning. As mentioned by T. Highway “European languages divide the universe into genders, where objects and beings are either male or female.” It is not uncommon in the English language for words to have masculine or feminine connotations. With this in mind, it is important to be careful when using words that are associated with a single sex similar to using words like fascism. The misuse of words can be used to manipulate one’s view on a variety of groups. This form of control targeting the differing sexes is extremely common and it often has devastating effects on how society as a whole judge males or females. An example of word that has been twisted over the years is the word pretty. Pretty is a word that describes a delicate but mild beauty, most commonly used as a way to compliment a female. Overtime this word that once was meant to be a gentler form to describe a women’s beauty has become condescending with its use. When the word is applied to men it can be perceived as an insult as the word challenges their masculinity by mocking their appearance and referring to them as delicate. The compliment now poisoned becomes negative even for a woman depending on how it is said as it is no longer is a word to state a desirable appearance. Now this term cages a person in, stating they are delicate and weak, and only their looks matter. By warping the intentions behind an expression we create more opportunities for misunderstandings. What once was a compliment now has unclear layers of meaning that changes from person to person. One person will be offended by being called pretty the other will blush. This reaction is dependent on their background and what they have read, but that should not be the case. Words should have structure. Without consistent meaning, the language starts to decay into confusing rotten greens and yellows.
Word choice can have powerful effects. Why should humans be so worried about our decaying language? It seems many have forgotten how much power a word holds. There is a reason anyone who has been bullied will scoff at the saying that sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. As a matter of facts, words can hurt a person. Words can heal, and they can give hope. To the opposite effect, words can also bring groups to war. This is true even the supposed unbiased world of science where there is no good or bad only fact and natural truth can succumb to influence of words. An example brought up by Emily Martins are words used in medical text to describe menstruation a healthy natural process, which as a result of word choice is turned into, as described in the essay, “chaotic disintegration”. Words like ceasing, dying, expelling, are used to illustrate the cycle in a negative light. This process of word choice influences how the reader perceives the subject discussed is not always negative like the example above. Words can be used to make a subject more desirable than it should be displayed. In comparison to the female menstruation cycle, Emily points out how the male reproductive system is displayed differently, “The mechanisms which guide the remarkable cellular transformation from spermatid to mature sperm remain uncertain” . Already there is a notable change in wording from only a slice of a sentence. The word remarkable stands out painting the sperm’s development as this amazing journey, some of evolutions finest work. Both of these cycles are important, but with the choice of wording one cycle is wasteful and withering, well another is remarkable, an excitement to talk about, something that should be praised. Words can bend our perception of what is good and what is bad. It is why we need to be careful with how you use them or we can even in medical text accidental or on purpose categorize an entire sex as less impressive. This idea can be applied to any group, objective or object. Wording determines how humans perceive.
Expression should not be limited but should be monitored. We should not stop expressing ourselves through words out of fear of destroying the language that binds us as a group. We should instead be cautious of how we share our thoughts in words. Textbooks should not stop writing about the reproductive systems out of concern that they will present the sexes in an unequal manner, but instead the authors should take care to pay attention to the words they use with explaining facts. As stated by Václav Havel “the human race exists as such only thanks to another of god’s miracles-the miracle of human speech.” We should celebrate the freedom to write because it is one of our greatest gifts. For those fortunate enough to have recourse and freedom to express themselves through social media, or essays, or books, they should not limit themselves when so many are imprisoned for trying to write down their thoughts. Instead of taking too much caution of how you say things within a certain regulations for political reasons, we must have a right to language but no singular person abuse it for his or her own benefit, because will never exist just for one person. Every person that reads another’s tweet or article is influenced by the word choice made by others. As stated by Jarred Diamond “Here we have to remind ourselves that the vast majority of societies with writing acquired it by borrowing it from neighbors or by being inspired by them to develop it, rather than by independently inventing it themselves.” We have agreed on language as sign, but in a society, we burrow the meaning of words instead of creating the meaning. The ability to express one’s thoughts is a gift everyone should have the right to practice, but it should not be done without thought. Abusing words will further the loss of value of words used.
It is important to respect the words we have been provided with by the English language; misuse of a word’s meaning can warp the common perception of that word, and not practicing care when selecting words to describe something paints the topic in an unjust light. We should continue to share our thoughts but it is imperative to keep in mind the strength of the words we are using as we write. A word is the paint a writer uses to share their thoughts. Abusing words with improper use such as changing the words meaning or carelessly overuses of a particular popular word destroys the words, and ruins the expression just as in painting muddling the color, destroys the once diverse palette, and damages the painting. The weight words hold can turn concepts over, which should be either neutrally viewed or remarkably or inefficiently viewed. This is not to say one should not attempt to write, as writing is a blessing not everyone has to the luxury to use. We should take care with what we say and how we say it but we should never stop writing. It is easy to get swept up in flashy headers and convincing blog posts, but it is critical to think about what you are reading. Together we need to be willing to call out those who abuse words to avoid others being misled. Language is what tethers a society, if we continue to allow words meaning to be unraveled each individual sentence will become bland and paragraphs blurred with nothing standing out into any form of text.
Bibliography
Diamond, Jarred. Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1997.
Havel, Václav. “A Word About Words.” Open Letters: Selected Writings 1965-1990. New York: Vintage Books, 1990.
Highway, Thompson. “Prologue.” From Oral to Written: A Celebration of Indigenous Literature in Canada 1980-2010.
Vancouver, Talon Books, 2017.
Martin, Emily. “The Egg and the Sperm: How Science Has Constructed a Romance Based on Stereotypical Male-Female Roles.”
Signs 16:3 (1991), 486-501.
Orwell, George. “Politics and the English Language.” The Collected Essays. London: Mercury Books, 1968.
Disclaimer: Readers should be aware that due to formatting constraints, quoted sources in this article could not be included in footnotes and endnotes. Readers should please consult the bibliography section of the article. Inquires may be directed to the author.
About the Author: Ellora Reddy from a young age struggled with both reading and writing. To overcome this, she turned to visual mediums such as drawing and painting to find a way to express her thoughts and frustrations on paper. For years she had to work very hard, as her mother put it “twice as hard as others,” to obtained an average comprehension of reading and writing skills. High school was a turning point for Ellora, with the use of technology. As Microsoft Word became commonly used in schools, Ellora stopped thinking of writing as a frightening concept. Now as a second year student in the Arts program, Ellora she could express herself better both in words and graphics with the help of dedicated university professors. She has started to dip her feet into the world of writing and drawing for her self-expression.
Instructor’s Remarks: I am very pleased that Ellora will be published in the second edition of Muse From The North. When Ellora submitted this essay for my course, I was very happy to read her insightful comments on how words and language construct our identities. In addition, I was especially happy to see that Ellora was citing some of the best writers in the world to support her insightful ideas. I am very pleased to have been a part of her creative process. Congratulations Ellora. (Dr. Gilbert McInnis)