by Terry 23 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Terry,
One of the worlds most powerful wordsmiths, Winston Churchill, found his power in simplicity. He always used simple languge, simple sentences, simple thoughts, but to a devastating effect.
Imho his speech on June 4th, 1940 was one of the most stirring ovations ever recorded, yet it was expressed in language that is disarmingly simple. Perhaps it is not so much vocabulary as eloquence that is important.
Best regards - HS
There is beauty and clarity in words. How they are arranged is as important as the notes in music. A precise and suitable word can convey meaning in the shortest time. The formal cause of writing is to convey an idea from one mind into another economically yet clearly and intelligibly.
The golden rule of writers is to keep in mind the audience that they are aiming at. I always ask myself am I trying to communicate or impress? Trying to impress can have the opposite effect. People will quickly lose interest unless we talk or write in their language, with all its shades and colors that they can relate to and understand.
Great comments all. Much depth embraced in your thoughts. I don't remember who said: "Language is the house of being", Heidegger I think, doesn't matter. Others access us by our dress, demeanor and the vocabulary we use. On that basis some seek us out, others check us off the party list. Right or wrong, good or bad we are judged by our grasp of language.
Is word power important? You bet. If for nothing else, as Terry commented, than to understand what we ingest, as we read, or simply listen to the word power of others.
I recall watching a Western Movie once. An army officer was talking to an Indian chief. The Indians did not have a written language.
The Officer was trying to convey to the Chief what one could do with the written word. He wrote a command on a piece of paper, and had one of his men deliver it to another officer quite some distance away. The film showed the recipient read what was on the paper, then immediately carry out the order precisely. You should have seen the priceless look of surprise and amazement on the face of that Chief.
The message received and understood showed the power of words over distance. That distance can be time as well as geographic. Think of it. By writing things down and preserving it thru the centuries, we can begin to comprehend how another human being thought and reasoned hundreds or even thousands of years ago. Mind-boggling!
Now think about the future, and space travel.......Will Word Power become more important or less important?
Rod P.
