THE WONDER OF WORDS
How easily we take words for granted.
We wait until a child says his/her first word. We’re thrilled, excited, celebratory.
Then as the child grows and speaks more words, we wish they’d stop talking.
We go through our days speaking words constantly. They come quickly sometimes without thought. Seldom if ever do we stop and contemplate a word. Where did we get this word? How often have we used this word? Why does this word sound the way it does? Who came up with the pronunciation? What is the texture of the word? What is the word’s etymology?
Take, for example, the word, brown. Just let that word hang there. Brown. Feel the wonder of the word, brown. Who attached this word to this color? What are words similar to the word, brown? For example, tawny, bronze, tan, swart, dark.
Now just repeat the word, brown, out loud several times. In fact, repeat the word, brown, until it sounds strange. Try to taste the word, brown.
Now use the word, brown, in a sentence. For example, My overcoat is brown. Or The sun this evening has a brown hue.
Think of how you can put words together in a sentence. Just take a sentence from your everyday conversation. For example, So I said to her, Is my suntan brown enough?
How did you do that? You had the question in your mind and put it into words before you said it.
How many times during a day do you do this? Now think of how you can put words together. For example, a worn-down soul, cunningly imprecise, staggeringly simple, soft surprise, shrewd distrust, forlorn bravado.
Now use words to make pictures. For example, river, snowfall, Christmas, joy, warmth, hope, hazy.
(Words are like a palette of paints with which we can create vivid, multicolored pictures).
Words can skip, jump, pry, pierce. Thanks to words we have risen above the brutes, but thanks to words, we have sunk to the level of beasts.
If we can’t play with words, we can’t work with words.
Words can be used to persuade or force, to heal or torture, to build or destroy, to inspire or provoke, to teach or taunt, to be picturesque or bland.
Words can be used to deceive or brainwash. For example, pre owned when the reality is second hand.
We can stonewall God with words, even prayerful words.
Whatever else, don’t take words or your use of words for granted.
How easily we take words for granted.
We wait until a child says his/her first word. We’re thrilled, excited, celebratory.
Then as the child grows and speaks more words, we wish they’d stop talking.
We go through our days speaking words constantly. They come quickly sometimes without thought. Seldom if ever do we stop and contemplate a word. Where did we get this word? How often have we used this word? Why does this word sound the way it does? Who came up with the pronunciation? What is the texture of the word? What is the word’s etymology?
Take, for example, the word, brown. Just let that word hang there. Brown. Feel the wonder of the word, brown. Who attached this word to this color? What are words similar to the word, brown? For example, tawny, bronze, tan, swart, dark.
Now just repeat the word, brown, out loud several times. In fact, repeat the word, brown, until it sounds strange. Try to taste the word, brown.
Now use the word, brown, in a sentence. For example, My overcoat is brown. Or The sun this evening has a brown hue.
Think of how you can put words together in a sentence. Just take a sentence from your everyday conversation. For example, So I said to her, Is my suntan brown enough?
How did you do that? You had the question in your mind and put it into words before you said it.
How many times during a day do you do this? Now think of how you can put words together. For example, a worn-down soul, cunningly imprecise, staggeringly simple, soft surprise, shrewd distrust, forlorn bravado.
Now use words to make pictures. For example, river, snowfall, Christmas, joy, warmth, hope, hazy.
(Words are like a palette of paints with which we can create vivid, multicolored pictures).
Words can skip, jump, pry, pierce. Thanks to words we have risen above the brutes, but thanks to words, we have sunk to the level of beasts.
If we can’t play with words, we can’t work with words.
Words can be used to persuade or force, to heal or torture, to build or destroy, to inspire or provoke, to teach or taunt, to be picturesque or bland.
Words can be used to deceive or brainwash. For example, pre owned when the reality is second hand.
We can stonewall God with words, even prayerful words.
Whatever else, don’t take words or your use of words for granted.
posted by The Ronald | 10:52 AM
3 Comments:
Yes, words are powerful, persuasive, descriptive, informative, and mysterious. No matter how they are woven, their impact has the potential to be everlasting. Once uttered or shared, "it's out there" and cannot be taken back. How powerful they are, what marks and images they leave on minds and hearts, and what a responsibility we have to use them lovingly, trustfully, and wisely.
-ces
Words are as necessary for me as air to breath and food to eat. Thanks to them I can work, express my feelings and find out I am important to somebody. However, with age, I see that I am receiving lots of empty promises, how-are-yous, and tons of lip service. I see how words are not followed by deeds and for this reason I slowly move away into a corner. It is quiet there. Words – beautiful creatures, but most of the time they are empty.
"It is what it is" is a mantra that I've adopted to deal with the stress in our lives.
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