The Power of Words
In an average day we may use as many as 40,000 words, the equivalent of four to six hours of continuous speech (Locke 436). We use these words with much ease and usually little self-conscious thought. We simply open our mouths, and out they come. With our words we express our beliefs, and ourselves while at the same time imparting some affect on those we are speaking to, and they, vice-versa to us. It is this very influence that our words have that truly gives them their power. We all, at times overlook the far-reaching strength of our words, but this ignorance makes us no less susceptible to their power.
People have always had a certain amount of awe for the words they speak. Traditional stories from pre-Christian Ireland, for example, frequently describe encounters in which a poet takes revenge on an enemy by composing words so scathing that they were thought to be able to “âÂ?¦raise blisters on the victim’s flesh” (Dunn 5). Other poets, such as Shakespeare, also believed that they could capture and immortalize the beauty of their loves within their sonnets. Words were seen as having an almost magical quality about them. A respect for words has also been a part of our culture. We have sayings such as “A man is as good as his word,” and in courtrooms we recite a formal oath to tell the truth, which is simply a promise made with precise words (6). In this way, we have placed much weight on words and their meanings. But along with this respect for words, a fear of words has also been present. We have many superstitions about how we use our words. We are afraid to talk about events of which the outcome is still pending, for fear that our words will negatively affect what will happen (7). When we speak of particular subjects, such as some misfortune we have managed to escape, we “knock on wood,” as a way to prevent this situation from happening in the future. We avoid certain words entirely, as with the use of euphemisms. We make up words to replace those that make us uncomfortable, such as many of the words surrounding death. We say that someone has “passed away,” or that they are “gone.” We create these substitutions in our language at times to be polite to others and at times to protect ourselves from aspects of the world that we have a tough time facing (Dunn 7). Words can have a magical effect, but only in the way that they affect the minds of those who use them.
The power of language starts to influence us in early childhood. We learn to associate certain words with the opinions expressed around those words (“Words”). These associations are likely to stick in our minds even when we reach adulthood. In this way words gain some of their power through our unconscious. We are conditioned by the words we use and hear frequently, and they become second nature to us. This causes a problem when a word loses its literal meaning and becomes distorted in or own minds by the emotional connotations that surround it. “If words are not trustworthy in the privacy of our heads, they are even less so when they are converted to speech or writing” (“Words”). We then become less able to relay what we really want to say because the words carry meanings that only we know the emotional connotations of. This is not only a problem when we are talking to someone else, but also when he or she is speaking to us. They may have their own emotional links to certain words; this then can cause our interpretation of what is being said to be different from what is actually meant. Exaggeration is also a natural part of our language. We express things as being bigger, better, or worse than they actually are. This dual nature of language makes it very important to watch carefully the words we choose. When words are manipulated, they can make us believe and do just about anything. This fact makes it very important to have the ability to sort our how someone feels about a subject; from the information they are giving you about that subject (“Words”).
In human relationships, words can be especially powerful and sometimes dangerous. We tend to use labels to define people and situation. In the worst cast, labels can reduce an issue to its simplest form, causing its importance or uniqueness to be lost. When labels are aimed at people, they can have the effect of dehumanizing a person by shrinking their entire being down to a single word (Dunn 7). This is apparent in racism, sexism, and narrow-mindedness. The power of our words is twisted to override reason. Toni Morrison phrased it this way, “Oppressive language does more than represent violence; it is violence; it does more than represents the limits of knowledge; it limits knowledge . . .” (qtd in Marvel 1A).
We have all heard the saying, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me!” Children learn to say this usually after being the object of name-calling. But this saying couldn’t be further from the truth (Dunn 7). Our bones usually did make it through just fine, but something had been hurt. This is yet another aspect of the power that words carry. They can hurt us, and usually with a more deep and lasting effect than a physical injury could cause.
Ultimately, we all hold the power of words within ourselves. Whatever powers we give them, and however they may influence us, they are things of our own creation. With this knowledge we are charged with a great responsibility. Words reflect and give wings to everything that is inside of us, and for good or for bad, they can express what we truly are as nothing else can (Dunn 8).
People have always had a certain amount of awe for the words they speak. Traditional stories from pre-Christian Ireland, for example, frequently describe encounters in which a poet takes revenge on an enemy by composing words so scathing that they were thought to be able to “âÂ?¦raise blisters on the victim’s flesh” (Dunn 5). Other poets, such as Shakespeare, also believed that they could capture and immortalize the beauty of their loves within their sonnets. Words were seen as having an almost magical quality about them. A respect for words has also been a part of our culture. We have sayings such as “A man is as good as his word,” and in courtrooms we recite a formal oath to tell the truth, which is simply a promise made with precise words (6). In this way, we have placed much weight on words and their meanings. But along with this respect for words, a fear of words has also been present. We have many superstitions about how we use our words. We are afraid to talk about events of which the outcome is still pending, for fear that our words will negatively affect what will happen (7). When we speak of particular subjects, such as some misfortune we have managed to escape, we “knock on wood,” as a way to prevent this situation from happening in the future. We avoid certain words entirely, as with the use of euphemisms. We make up words to replace those that make us uncomfortable, such as many of the words surrounding death. We say that someone has “passed away,” or that they are “gone.” We create these substitutions in our language at times to be polite to others and at times to protect ourselves from aspects of the world that we have a tough time facing (Dunn 7). Words can have a magical effect, but only in the way that they affect the minds of those who use them.
The power of language starts to influence us in early childhood. We learn to associate certain words with the opinions expressed around those words (“Words”). These associations are likely to stick in our minds even when we reach adulthood. In this way words gain some of their power through our unconscious. We are conditioned by the words we use and hear frequently, and they become second nature to us. This causes a problem when a word loses its literal meaning and becomes distorted in or own minds by the emotional connotations that surround it. “If words are not trustworthy in the privacy of our heads, they are even less so when they are converted to speech or writing” (“Words”). We then become less able to relay what we really want to say because the words carry meanings that only we know the emotional connotations of. This is not only a problem when we are talking to someone else, but also when he or she is speaking to us. They may have their own emotional links to certain words; this then can cause our interpretation of what is being said to be different from what is actually meant. Exaggeration is also a natural part of our language. We express things as being bigger, better, or worse than they actually are. This dual nature of language makes it very important to watch carefully the words we choose. When words are manipulated, they can make us believe and do just about anything. This fact makes it very important to have the ability to sort our how someone feels about a subject; from the information they are giving you about that subject (“Words”).
In human relationships, words can be especially powerful and sometimes dangerous. We tend to use labels to define people and situation. In the worst cast, labels can reduce an issue to its simplest form, causing its importance or uniqueness to be lost. When labels are aimed at people, they can have the effect of dehumanizing a person by shrinking their entire being down to a single word (Dunn 7). This is apparent in racism, sexism, and narrow-mindedness. The power of our words is twisted to override reason. Toni Morrison phrased it this way, “Oppressive language does more than represent violence; it is violence; it does more than represents the limits of knowledge; it limits knowledge . . .” (qtd in Marvel 1A).
We have all heard the saying, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me!” Children learn to say this usually after being the object of name-calling. But this saying couldn’t be further from the truth (Dunn 7). Our bones usually did make it through just fine, but something had been hurt. This is yet another aspect of the power that words carry. They can hurt us, and usually with a more deep and lasting effect than a physical injury could cause.
Ultimately, we all hold the power of words within ourselves. Whatever powers we give them, and however they may influence us, they are things of our own creation. With this knowledge we are charged with a great responsibility. Words reflect and give wings to everything that is inside of us, and for good or for bad, they can express what we truly are as nothing else can (Dunn 8).
