Dispatches from Nowhere 03.03.06
I love language. I love the beauty of it. I like how a well-written word can transport the reader to a new world, or how it can impart a new understanding, or simply leave you breathless.
However, loving words means understanding their dark side.
Words hurt.
Sometimes our words need to hurt. There are times that the words we say must be hard. Sometimes we have to say the things that no one wants to hear. Sometimes, the words are uncomfortable and cause the people listening to turn away. Does that mean we have to be initially harsh in choosing our words? Of course not. We still claim to be a civil society.
One of the interesting things about learning a new language is the deeper understanding of the impact words can have. How you translate a particular character or word can change the tone and meaning of an entire passage. A simple mistranslation can incite riots, cause a fatwa to be pronounced, or create an international incident. By not being careful with what we say or how we choose to say it can be the cause of a fight between lovers, end a friendship, or be the cause for termination from a job. Misspoken words, intentional or otherwise, can damage a child, a spouse, or another loved one. The wrong words from a teacher can destroy any self-confidence a student might have in their own abilities.
Language is our most powerful tool. With it we can spin a story, one that speaks to each generation. To borrow a turn of phrase from Dave Eggars, we can create “a heartbreaking work of staggering genius”.
Or,
We can destroy a child, our own or someone else’s.
Every time I get mad, I catch myself yelling. The more I catch myself, the more I try and stop the impulse to yell. The more I try, the better it gets. It takes work. I have to remember that my words can hurt or heal. I have to remember that every word I speak shapes the future and how much I want that future to be bright.
However, loving words means understanding their dark side.
Words hurt.
Sometimes our words need to hurt. There are times that the words we say must be hard. Sometimes we have to say the things that no one wants to hear. Sometimes, the words are uncomfortable and cause the people listening to turn away. Does that mean we have to be initially harsh in choosing our words? Of course not. We still claim to be a civil society.
One of the interesting things about learning a new language is the deeper understanding of the impact words can have. How you translate a particular character or word can change the tone and meaning of an entire passage. A simple mistranslation can incite riots, cause a fatwa to be pronounced, or create an international incident. By not being careful with what we say or how we choose to say it can be the cause of a fight between lovers, end a friendship, or be the cause for termination from a job. Misspoken words, intentional or otherwise, can damage a child, a spouse, or another loved one. The wrong words from a teacher can destroy any self-confidence a student might have in their own abilities.
Language is our most powerful tool. With it we can spin a story, one that speaks to each generation. To borrow a turn of phrase from Dave Eggars, we can create “a heartbreaking work of staggering genius”.
Or,
We can destroy a child, our own or someone else’s.
Every time I get mad, I catch myself yelling. The more I catch myself, the more I try and stop the impulse to yell. The more I try, the better it gets. It takes work. I have to remember that my words can hurt or heal. I have to remember that every word I speak shapes the future and how much I want that future to be bright.
posted by depressoboy at 12:52 PM
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