Words

So its been a week or so and I honestly started a couple different entries but they never made the final cut.  This is why I will probably never be an author (God willing):  Anything I begin writing which is not completed in the first sitting mostly gets deleted.  But none of that is terribly important.

Words.  In addition to being the title of a song I've come to enjoy recently they are an interesting topic.  They're pretty important.  This blog wouldn't exist without them.  Nor would the internet, books, civilization, or possibly even conscious thought.  There is a theory which has some strong supporting evidence that words actually give shape to the thing that we think of as "me".  There are a few people who, through genetic catastrophe or situational trauma, have no words.  They do not have capacity for language.  And as far as anyone can tell, they don't think.  In a couple cases, often from strokes, people temporarily lose their capacity for language and what they relate about that experience seems to support the theory that language is necessary for thought.  But for the purposes of this entry that doesn't much matter either.  It's just interesting background.

I've been thinking a lot about words lately.  In fact I think about words a lot.  I have always enjoyed words; particularly unusual or niche words.  But my true fascination with language began in my first sophomore year of college back in 2005 when I took a cultural anthropology course.  According to anthropology language is the single most important cultural identifier.  Not "race", not religion, not nationality, not socio-economic class or gender or any of the other powerful expressions of culture.  Each of those things has its influence on language certainly which is why there are strong correlations for each one and cultural identity.  And this gets really specific.  Each person has their own personal lexicon and accent which makes a statement about their personal cultural identity.  To illustrate this point my professor in cultural anthropology used to examples from personal experience.  He's from the mid-west and moved to west Philly.  He did not like the people there.  He found himself exaggerating his Midwest accent and using words he never used before in his life such as "y'all".  As if to say "I'm not one of you! I'm from the Midwest where people are friendly!".  The second example was from a group of students he took to Ireland for an excavation.  In the US we swear mainly scatologically and sexually.  In Ireland they swear sacrilegiously.  And the Irish are really cool guys or at least the bunch they were working with.  After 2 months his students were swearing like the Irish and kept it up for a while after returning.

The effect of linguistic shifts due to culture is different in each person.  Some people are more prone to it than others for a large variety of reasons.  Ever met someone who picks up accents really fast or maybe someone who never seems to change their accent no matter how long they've lived somewhere?  I have found that while I may not pick up accents readily I do pick up words, particularly idioms or other eccentric phrases, very easily from people I identify with.  Last night I was talking to the dogs I work with (yes I converse with animals) and found myself using a word I have never used in my life but I know someone who uses it with some frequency.  Chris, if you are reading this it was none of your colorful swear substitutes.  But on the note of my brother-in-law I have started using "sass" in various contexts.  Its a little scary.  In the past I have also noticed some of my friends picking up my own peculiar phrases.  For instance, I used to say "fair enough" a lot.  That may not seem like an odd phrase but it became distinctive of me because I used it so much.  Some of my friends at the time began using it as well.

God also has a lot to say about words.  The tongue of a wise man is pure silver. The tongue can extinguish a fire or start one. The tongue is like a knife.  The universe (a word which means "single sentence") was spoken into existence.  Christ is referred to as The Word who is with God and who is God.  God left us with 66 books full of his own words written down by his chosen scribes and He tells us to meditate upon and make them a part of us.  The way people come to God is by other people telling them about Him.

And yet it often feels like words are thrown around so carelessly and without a thought.  I am very guilty of this myself often enough.  How often do we really stop to think about what words we will say until after we have already said them.  I can't speak for anyone else but for myself the answer is not nearly enough.  Seldom enough that I remark those moments when I do carefully choose my words.  More often I listen to what I just said and am surprised (what kind of surprise can go either way).  I don't think I really had a grand point when I started writing this.  I mainly just wanted to put some of these thoughts down on paper so to speak.  But what I am realizing as I am writing is that I at least really need to do a better job with this.  Most of the time its fine and often enough my thoughtlessness creates cause for amusement but if I cause hurt or resentment or misunderstanding even once merely through word choice that is too many times.  I'm probably going to have to think about this some more as I feel a little ambushed by my own thoughts.  And with that I suppose I will adjourn.  God be with you till we meet again.

PS:  I was halfway hoping that some of these entries would spawn discussion.  So if you have anything to say please comment.  I realize that the blog is still pretty brand new but it can't hurt to encourage you all.  Also, if there is anything that you might be interested to have me randomly muse about for your entertainment let me know.  I might eventually want to bring some structure to this enterprise if I manage to keep doing it.