"Don't get upset by what he said. They're only words."
Now, allow me to explain and expand. For some, the words of others don't sting as much as they will for others, but whether you are tough as nails or a marshmallow when it comes to matters of the heart, those to whom you communicate may not fall into your same category.
If not everyone receives the same words in the same spirit, then how do we become astute at the great art of communication? Well, the answer is in the question: it is an art, so we practice. We test the waters. Observe more than just verbal communication/language. We communicate who we are to others in many different ways and within many unique nuances. Reading people --really taking the time and presence of mind to actively listen to not just what they say but how they say it--can really tell you a lot.
In year one and year two of the IB Language and Literature, Diploma Program, we have already done a lot of communicating with one another in various groups and partnerships, as well as all together on our blog. As Markus Zusak wrote in his masterpiece, The Book Thief, "words are life," figuratively and quite literally. We see this to be true for our protagonist Jane in Jane Eyre as people's words to her and about her (positive, and negative) have greatly shaped her still stabilizing identity. We very CLEARLY see how people's words have carved away pieces of Mariam's identity in A Thousand Splendid Suns. Combinations of letters create words, the arrangement of words create sentences, these sentences convey meaning. What the recipient does with that meaning--how they deconstruct it--builds and tears down elements of their very character. That's power!
In the link below, you will have the opportunity to read Cat Thompson's article, The Power of Language. Read through it, maybe even commit some of it to memory as a resource to use when you communicate. See what happens!
You are powerful. Whether written or spoken, your words carry the power to build someone up and bring life, or tear them down and bring death.
Just like that mighty sword the English were talking about.
Directions for your response post:
1. Read the short article: https://experiencelife.com/article/the-power-of-language/ Then, reflect on what you learned, and what most resonates with you on the topic.
2. Go through the quotes below about words and their power. Pick a favorite, type it up in your post, and write about why it was your favorite. I would LOVE to hear your thoughts...in your own words.
Quotes about language/words:
The idea that language has great power is nothing new! Even though our modern society is much more sensitized and defensive in nature (we seem to have lost the art to debate and replaced it with the great art of mudslinging in the public arena), in ancient times and during the Renaissance, the power of our language was acknowledged. Here are a few famous quotes, including those collected from Proverbs in the Bible and the great bard, Shakespeare, himself...
The statement from the article that resonated with me the most was how speaking the words out loud in a positive, clear manner, it will most likely or eventually become a reality. I learned that although indecisive language may have been used to not offend someone, it does more harm than good because it is left up to interpretation and almost always has a negative connotation. Using unclear language impresses that either the person does not care enough to mean what they say, or they are giving themselves room to bail out of a decision. The quote that I chose is, "Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can only be forgiven, not forgotten." I like this quote because it simply emphasizes that the power that words have is irreversible and that each word should know its consequences before reaching someone's ears.
ReplyDeleteOoooh! I love what you noted about unclear language. Very insightful! :)
Delete"Words are free, it's how you use them that may cost you." I found this to be a very true and alluring statement. It reminds me of freedom of speech. You have the right to say whatever you want, but that does not mean that others don't have the right to retaliate with their own freedom of speech. The words that you say, if not thought through, can cause a great deal of regret in the future. Think. Don't listen to those who tell you otherwise. "O be wise, what can I say more?" Jacob 6: 12
ReplyDeleteEliza Hess
ReplyDeleteThe quote from the article that spoke to me the most talked about how whenever we say the words "I am", and whatever follows resonate in our consciousness. This convicted me because I did not realize how much I self deprecate myself by saying things like "I am tired" or "I am stupid". This made me realize how saying things like I am tired, when I am not really tired make me subconsciously become tired. I thought it was very wise for the article to encourage their readers to state how they are feeling rather that who they are. For example, instead of saying "I am tired" the article encourages saying "I feel exhausted". I loved that idea because saying you feel a certain way makes your brain recognizes that your state can change.
The quote that I believe is the most powerful is "Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can only be forgiven not forgotten." I loved this quote because I thought it met/exceeded most of the qualities listed in the article we read. The quote was simply worded, short, and simple. This quote also reminded me of the saying "It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission." I have always hated this quote because it is never EVER true. Lastly, this quote is very convicting to me because I tend to not think about what I say when I become angry. This causes a lot of pain to the people I love. Overall, I think this is a good reminder that yes, words can be forgiven. However, they still resonate in the minds of their victims.
Such great observations here! :)
DeleteI thought that the article was really interesting and investigated ideas that I had never thought of before. Ultimately, I believe the article instructs us to be specific and clear about what we want, what our goals are and how we plan to get there. This will help us to communicate with others and to establish better relationships with people because of the clarity we use in our conversations. Although words are powerful and can easily have a positive or negative connotation, one quote that stood out to me was "There's a power in words. There's a power in being able to explain and describe and articulate what you know and feel and believe about the world, and about yourself." Our words can be dangerous and have great power, depending on the way they are used. However, there is something that I hope we never forget: our words and ability to speak and express ourselves with freedom is a gift that we should never take for granted, and I hope to remember and reflect on that every day.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article I found it interesting how the author mentioned you either speak with intention, carefully or with no intention - which is harmful. When I think about harmful vs. helpful speech I had always assumed you needed to intent to be hurtful with your words, and although this is true, after reading the article I am aware that even subtle word choices we make can be harmful to what we are trying to say or do.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote is the quote "Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something infinite" by C. S. Lewis. I think I am drawn to this quote because I find that amongst people my age, myself included, we speak with so many hyperboles it's hard to tell if what they're saying is as drastic as they make it out to be. I believe we do these things because we lose interest very quickly so to keep the attention of the listener (and if we're being honest the attention of the speaker as well) we have to use bigger, more flavorful words to draw them in. This is also something I have been attempting to work on for the last couple of years as I notice that I do this more so than the average teenager.
VERY insightful--especially what you said about speaking in hyperbole. I, too, am drawn to the C.S. Lewis quote. So important! Words can lose their power so quickly!
DeleteAfter reading this I stopped for a moment, just to think about all the horrendous or just bad things I've said. It is weird to reflect on something so negative and like with the beginning of that article had some of them come true...Needless to say I would be a very miserable and terrible person but I feel like being able to say them and know they were wrong really impacts me and who I am. Without these experiences I don't think I would try to be ask kind as I report myself to be and for some of you reading this, my words may be jarring. In truth however I've learned what not to say and how to recover from something I've said however much like the quote above " Be careful with your words , once they are said they can only be forgiven, not forgotten" many things I wish I'd never said but many more I'd never take back.you know the words of love and kindness and stuff =)
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the article and the commentary that Mrs.Caraway stated above, there are 2 main things that I took away from my reading. First, it helped me reinforce the idea that words are powerful and it all depends on how we wield it. As Mrs.Caraway said,”words carry the power to build someone up and bring life or tear them down and bring death.” This statment made really stuck out to me. It made me think about how we as people need to be wise and careful with what and how we speak to others. Our words carry a lot of weight to them and we need to take responsibilty of not only our physical actions but our words whether they be negative or positive. Another thing that really stood out to me was the idea about being more direct and straightforward when we are speaking to others. I am not going to lie I am guilty of not getting straight to the point and can be very wordy at times so I am really going to try and practice the advice from the author to “practice using fewer words to get the message across.” Yes, by nature I am a very talkative person but there will be no harm if I try and impliment this concept into specific situations when I am talking to others. It made me think about the idea of “less is more”. Overall, the lesson I took away was that words are VERY powerful and we need to ‘think before we speak’.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that stood out to me was,” Be careful with your words, once they are said they can only be forgiven, not forgotten.” This was the most profound to me as I found it to be the most true out of all the quotes based on my life experiences. I had a very rough childhood with my dad and he has said some demeaning comments,ect. I have always remembered the bad stuff more than the good stuff because it has been scarred into my brain. Just recently I have been learning how to forgive my dad for the words and things he has done but I will never forget them. This just shows how words(along with actions) have a very powerful impact on someone’s life and can stick with them forever and affect your relationship with someone.
The thing that most resonates with me from the article is that when you longer have anything else to say then just accept the silence and listen for what comes next. By becoming more comfortable with silence and more conscious of your word choices, "'your language will reflect your increased conviction and commitment. When you no longer waste words by using them as 'filler'". This really stood out to me because I know I talk to much at times. I know I do not like silence, I want rooms to be happy and to me silence does not equal a happy space. When it is quiet I am left to think about to many things which sometimes lead to major anxiety. When people are talking or I am talking I do not overthink, it distracts me. The article talked about the power of words such as I or I will try. Sometimes we do not take into consideration the affect that these word will have on someone. Most people talk before they think or will talk more and not say what they intended to.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that stood out to me was "Words have a magical power. They can either bring the greatest happiness or the deepest despair" This quote seems a black and white and that is how words are, they can be interpreted differently depending on the person they are said to. Words can be used to tell someone something exciting like graduating or something sad like the death of a loved one. Or as I said early they can go both ways, like the article said I'll try can be an example of this. Books are another example that support this quote, some books make me extremely happy and excited while others make me want to throw it across the room. Sometimes a single sentence or phrase can be more powerful than a whole paragraph which might be another reason this quote stood out.
I think it is very important that this article highlighted that depending upon different circumstances different "I" statements can be interpreted differently. I know many instances where I meant to express one thing but my audience got a completely different meaning than what I intended. I also think its important to recognize that the plethora of different interpretations of a statement can be used to manipulate and audience. While in one situation "I will try to..." may mean you are simply too busy and are putting in extra effort to fit that task in. It can also be interpreted as completely the opposite as you are too lazy to confirm you will get the task done. This highlights the necessity a speaker/ audience needs to understand their environment and a person's motives to survive in this world.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I thought was interesting in the article was how it says to deal with lulls that come into a conversation. I have always gotten anxiety when a conversation fades to silence or I have run out of things to talk about - particularly in a one-on-one setting. I know I have to work on being comfortable with silence and being intentional about what I am saying even when it leads to lulls.
I LOVE the quote raise your words not your voice. Its rain that grows flowers not thunder. I think its important for humans to nurture each other by using uplifting, and critical suggestions to one instead of simply pointing out what they may be doing wrong.
Words. So powerful . They can crush a heart, or heal it. They can shame a soul, or liberate it. They can shatter dreams or energize them. They can obstruct connection or invite it. They create defenses , or melt them. We have to use words wisely. I liked this quote because or the description it uses. It does just say use words wisely but it says specifically both sides of what words can do. I just liked the way it was phrased and the structure as well because it was like a comparison between opposites. And I also found it to be very true because words are very powerful and can hurt people more than we know so really liked it.
ReplyDelete(Jaquelyn Sanchez)
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting part of the article for me is how it pointed out how people interpret "I'll try" in different ways. I usually use it to say that I want to do an activity, but I might not be able to because of other things I need to do. I don't mean to be hostile when I say it, I just don't want to make a promise when I know that what I want to do might not happen. It made me realize that I should clarify myself after I say "I'll try" to show that I don't have bad intentions. I also find it interesting that the article says to be direct with your language. It is especially hard for me to speak clearly and directly because I usually have to provide long explanations in papers at school, and I write better than I speak.Something that would probably help me with using more direct language would be talking with others and using casual language more often in conversations. The C.S. Lewis quote in the post also reflects about this problem, how people want to use larger vocabulary to sound more intelligent, when really the word that would seem more casual is the right one to use. Using colorful language all the time then lessens its value, because then it seems more casual because you use it so often. I feel that using words that we learned in elementary school in conversation isn't so bad, because it gets the job done and increases the value of the other smarter sounding words.
I was intrigued by the idea that speaking can become a habit as we don't really think about what we say or the words we use and how that can have both implications and consequences. Holding ourselves accountable for our words and therefore choices is, I believe, crucial in breaking this habit, finding joy in life and empowering ourselves as what we say becomes our reality and the existence of our own ideas. I also learned that implying messages or trying to manipulate others requires to much energy, time and feelings of frustration that quite frankly are not worth the effort in the first place. I also never realized the connotation behind the phrase “I’ll try” in certain situations. When I was younger and my parents would ask me to do something I would always say “I’ll try”, to which they would always make me correct myself and instead reply with “Yes, (mom or dad)”. I never understood this as I always thought “Ill try”, meant that I would do my best, however my parents could have seen it as an act of defiance or me indirectly giving myself the option to fail.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote was, “Words are free. Its how you use them, that may cost you.”. I liked this quote because it shows the relationship between word choice and the need to be accountable. Words come at no price but you do use them at your own risk so to speak, as consequences always follow, whether they be good or bad. The cost can come from both external or internal sources as what you say to yourself can also affect your character, self-esteem, attitude and choices and therefore success and happiness in life.
What stood out to me especially in this article was the concept of "The Power of I". It is interesting that the language that we use after saying "I" such as "I can't" or "I know I can do it" can be very powerful. For example, that the phrase "I can't" when used by someone portrays "victimization". I also learned that the word "have" is much more effective in actually helping us to obtain things and goals rather than "want". I want to try to apply this concept to my life because I do think I should reduce how often I utilize the word "want" in my daily life.
ReplyDelete"Done to death by slanderous tongue" - William Shakespeare
I liked this quote because of how much it stood out and how powerful it was to me. The word "death" really communicates the point that being cruel, or "slanderous" with your words can heavily impact someone in such negative ways. This quote heavily conveys the power of words and that it is very important to choose what you say to others wisely.
From Rachel Dionne:
ReplyDeleteThe part that I believe I connected with the most in this article is the vagueness of speech. The reason I connect with this so much is because this year I am putting a lot on my plate and balancing everything I am doing. What I have noticed to be the most difficult is balancing my social life with all of that. Lately, I tend to tell my friends that I will try to go or I might be able to so that I am not tied down to the commitments. I need to try and change that to be more direct with the way I talk to people.
The quote I liked the most was, "Be careful with your words, once they are said they can only be forgiven not forgotten". The reason I like this quote is because going through life especially high school we lose a lot of friends due to arguments so I understand the value of this meaning.
Thanks so much,
Rachel Dionne
After reading this article I wasn't shocked by the authors point of view because many people tend to see words as powerful and immensely meaningful. This article does ring true to me but at the same time the author missed a very important part that words only have power over you if you let them. In my experience I always try to not let words affect my mentality and instead opt to pay attention to peoples actions. I have found that people can switch up quickly and keep switching up again and again so I never let words that were spoken in the heat of the moment affect my judgement. I rather look at peoples actions because that is the truest thing that they can do and means the most to me.
ReplyDeleteThe quote which stood out to me was "Words are free, its how you use them that may cost you". The reason I chose this quote was because I know that I can be very bad with words and say things which hurt people even when its not my intention and it costs me. I try to speak less and let my actions speak for me which I find to mean more to others.
It was very interesting when that article states, "When we utter committed and direct statements, we know we will be expected to follow through on them. So we sometimes devise very subtle ways of sending messages about whether we are really willing to do what we say, or whether our listener can expect us to bail out of our agreements. "I'll try" is a perfect example"(The Power of Language). This is very interesting that this is something we do naturally and something that can easily be exploited or used to our advantage when speaking or debating with others. This information definitely resonates with me because I attempt to argue my points to many people and can use this information to improve my arguments. The quote, "Words have a magical power. They can either bring the greatest happiness or deepest despair. This quote is my favorite because it helps us realize that words can be used to compliment someone and make them feel valuable, however, the same words can be used to put someone down, insult them, and cause them to feel like they are not worth anything to anyone. This quote jolts me back into reality and shows me that I need to watch my words because I can really hurt someone and to use my words to make someone feel valuable.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely more apt to seeing the faults of others when it comes to the communication mistakes as listed in the article. For example, I know way too many people who over explain things and talk a lot just because they like to hear their own voice. I agree with the article when it says this gets very boring very fast! I tend to tune people out when they talk a lot about something that has no relevance at all, which definitely is not the nicest thing to do, but most of the time I can't help it. I also noticed the power of manipulation that my 8 year old sister uses; any time she wants anything she says "I wish I could have..." hoping that someone will offer it to her without her having to ask for it. This is also incredibly annoying! For myself though, I am horrible at explaining things because I can be very vague, and I also have a tough time saying 'you' when I really mean 'I.' But with skill comes practice, so I'm glad this article has helped me to pin point what I can work on and what is not an effective way to communicate. It really does demonstrate the impactfulness of words which I saw when I was likening bad communication strategies to scenarios I've experiences or seen happening around me. It reminds me of how Mrs. Caraway always tells us that a message is never innocent, showing that everything has a meaning and an intention under the surface.
ReplyDeleteI liked the quote "Be careful with your words, once they are said, they can only be forgiven, not forgotten" because it perfectly demonstrates the power words can yield. This is especially true for me because I'm a super sensitive person so when someone says something rude I can move past it and even forget about it, but that mark is always going to be there. It also reminds me of the church saying we have, "don't ask for forgiveness, ask for permission" which is both used temporally and spiritually in that we shouldn't do something we know is wrong with the intentions of repenting later. The point of it is to choose the right and make sure your intentions behind your decisions are also righteous. Overall this quote teaches me to be more sensitive to the feelings of others with my words because I know firsthand the negative affect they can have.
After reading the article, I learned that a person should not have to be so self conscious when speaking and always worrying about what OTHERS think. You are the one speaking so you are using YOUR words and thus your ideas and one should never change their ideas to fit in, so why should they change their words? Not everyone is going to agree with you in life, but you can get people to at least respect your opinions. The only way to do this is to express them with strength and confidence because why should anybody believe there is any truth in your opinion if you don't even look certain in what you are saying? This idea is thus the part that really resonates with me because I feel strongly about this subject and believe it a fair point for people to live by.
ReplyDeleteThe quote I chose was "Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder" (Rumi). This is my favorite because of the truth I feel it holds. Most people believe that if you just scream something in an arguement people will listen to you. I have found this is not the case. With every pitch your voice raises, the less likely it is someoene will actually stop and listen. People are so defensive of themselves now a days because they feel everyone is after them for one reason or another. Thus when having a debate, they feel the opponent is attacking them personally instead of being curious at to why their opinions differs. This makes me think that if people really cared about their opinion, they would spend the time in developing it and seeing how it can improve. A good way to do this is to have these healthy debates to see where your flaws on or maybe see something you never even thought about before, thus making both you and your opponent more knowledgeable in the end, instead of angry.
After reading the article, I realized that I am guilty of using several of the word choices the article says are bad. Moving forward, I will try to be more conscious of what I'm saying and how I say it. I hope that this could help me not only in academia but in life as well.
ReplyDeleteI most resonated with the quote from C.S. Lewis about not using words that are too big for the subject. I feel like a lot of people like to use exasperated language to describe something mundane, and then run out of words to describe something really immense. Hyperbole has it's place in literature, but it is often over used and leaves no good description for something of greater magnitude.
What stood out to me was the concept of how the word "have" is more effective than "want" when creating goals. It made me realize that when making my goals I should use "have" instead of "want". This would help me in actually obtaining my goals. I also want to test this out in my daily life.
ReplyDelete"Words. So powerful. They can crush a heard, or heal it. They can shame a soul, or liberate it. They can shatter dreams, or energize them. They can obstruct connection, or invite it. They can create defenses, or melt them. We have to use words wisely"-J Brown
I liked this quote because it truly brings into perspective on how words effect us, even if we truly dont acknowledge it. We, as people will still think about negative words and positive words in times of high or low.
It was interesting to read the article and realize that all this time, I could be making my speaking more direct. The most powerful speakers, I think, are those that always have something valuable to say. Perhaps those people know what to say because, like the article said, they don't waste their words on unnecessary things. How much time could I save if I was always discuss things that are truly worth discussing?
ReplyDeleteEleanor Roosevelt said,
"Great minds discuss ideas.
Average minds discuss events.
Small minds discuss people."
I think what C.S. Lewis said about legitimately choosing words for the situation is a valuable skill, as I've found myself using words that are slightly too extreme for what I'm talking about, and then it makes it harder to truly describe what I'm thinking about later. What a strange problem to have, that our own language can fail us if we use it too much!
I thought the article was very interesting and I truly do believe that words have a strong hold on whether or not a person will be affected by you as a speaker. I know that people are more wise with their word choice by including emotion or personalization-as the article covers-I feel more connected and affected as a listener. I tend to be drawn to and trust those who do use these effective methods. I think the most interesting thing to read about was the usage of "I" at the beginning of statements. I never really thought about it, but again, personally reaching out to your audience tends to evoke more power within your message.
ReplyDelete"There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." (Proverbs 12:18)
I really liked this quote because it really demonstrated the effects of chosen words and what that says about a person. Words have as much power as a thrust from a sword, but they can also uplift the hearts of many. I believe that we have such a wonderful tool of expression, but it must be used wisely because it impacts a person immensely. What we say is also a reflection of our character and what we hope to be seen as, so we must be cautious and thoughtful of what we express to others. What an impact a few words may have on someone's life.
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ReplyDeleteI was enchanted went the article developed speaking as a “self-fulfilling prophecy”. I was fascinated by the degree that words can affect your future and the perspective that people view you in. The article reminded me of a Nas song that states “I know I can be what I want to be, if I work hard at it, I’ll be where I want to be”. When I first heard the song, I loved the beat. It was cheerful, upbeat, and simply fun but I had never considered how meaningful its’ words are. The song serves to set a positive self-fulfilling prophecy for everyone that hears it so they know they can be anything in this world if they tell themselves they are capable.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that resonates with me most comes from Rumi stating “raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers not thunder”. To me, the quote is a metaphor defining how to use words effectively. The quote states that in order to promote grow in flowers, you must be the rain, not the thunder. Meaning if you want to make a change in this world, your words must be of substance, not of sound. Which goes back to Cat Thompson’s article which states concise words hold more power than ambiguous words because saturated sentences “waste words” saying nothing. The quote stuck with me the most because I felt it had an interesting perspective on how words should be used.
When reading the article, I found some of the ideas very interesting and found them to be more true then I believed. The Idea I found more interesting is when the article talked about how we phrase a question can change the outcome of how people answer It. I think that if we are more direct with our questions and what we intend to get out of the question, we will get a more direct answer and they will be less hesitant to answer the question. I think it is amazing how when we word our words a certain way it can completely change the meaning or the intention of them, even when we didn't mean it that way. I feel like this is why we have to be very careful when it comes to who you are talking to and their personality. I also found it interesting in the article of how it talked about speaking in the present moment and how you feel now. I never realized how much more clear what you are trying to say can be when you just say what you are feeling in the moment. I agree with this because I think it can lead to a lot less confusion and the person you are talking to and telling them how you feel will understand as well.
ReplyDeleteThe quote I choose was "Words are free. It's how you use them, that may cost you." I choose this quote because I think it is extremely true. If you say one wrong thing to a person, it can cost you a whole relationship, even if it took little to nothing to say those words to them. I think this is something we should be reminded of on a daily basis because I think it is important to remember that everything comes with a cost, even when it seems free.
What stood out to me was how the article interpreted pieces of dialogue and showed how they impact your speech. I never realized that something like vagueness can impact the way you interact with someone and the way they interact back.It is important to see how the way we talk impacts others and yourself cause most of the time we do not consider our speech, it just comes naturally. The author makes a compelling case saying that language and speech hold immense power because in reality, it really does. It has immense power at manipulating peoples thoughts and feelings towards a certain subject and they even perceive you as a person. Personally I sometimes talk blindly not knowing the impacts it can have on others. Sometimes I don't even realize there could be an impact from what I say. After reading this article, I feel like I have a better understanding ion how I should talk in order to express myself clearly and correctly.
ReplyDelete"Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder."-Rumi
This quote stood out the most to me because the analogy made between word choice and rain, and tone of voice and thunder very creative. I interpret the first part trying to say that your word choice is what leads to a more sweeter outcome, such as the rain leading to the flowers which would be the sweeter outcome. The second part says that the tone of voice used can come out almost menacing and hurtful if not thought out correctly, such as the thunder not being able to produce the sweet flowers because a hurtful input does not lead to a positive outcome. This implies to many aspects of our everyday life and not only to speech. It goes to show that the more sweet and kind and respectful you are, it can lead to many more flowers in your life.
What stood out to me the most from the article was the section where “Verbal Runoff” was being discussed. It was interesting to see how this author felt towards “[wasting] our words” during ‘small talk’; something of which I am sure many of us are frequent users of. Without meaning to do so, we many times end up rambling in hopes of making a conversation less awkward. For this reason, I found it interesting to hear the author suggest to instead “graciously accept the silence” in times when there is nothing truly important to say in a conversation. In doing so, they claim that the language and words we use will begin to “have more power behind them”
ReplyDelete“Words are free. It’s how you use them, that may cost you.”
This quote stood out to me because of its unique way of letting us know that everything we say has its consequences. Living here in the US and being privileged with the 1st Amendment, we are all very used to being able to speak as we want and at no cost. This quote, however, helped me realize that our freedom of speech does not entitle us to being entirely free of consequences. We must always be careful with our words and be prudent when speaking if we don’t want to end up having to pay the price.
I really appreciated the article as it made me consider the impact of words that I didn't truly acknowledge before now. Many people are unaware of how their words can affect others, both positively and negatively. I especially enjoyed the section covering “vagueness and ambivalence”, as it showed how the lack of clarification can lead to different perspectives. It is important to clearly communicate the intended message to others in order to limit the risk of misinterpretation.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that I found the most interesting was "Words are free. It's how you use them, that may cost you". Words are open to be used in any way, however, they are irreversible once spoken out to the world. As people always say, make sure to think before you speak. Certain words may have a secondary meaning behind them that we don’t even acknowledge, therefore we must be careful and understand the connotations of words before using them. Other than the specific choice of words, the syntax and structure of the language have large impacts as well. Words are free for us to arrange in any order, and the way we chose to organize them is truly influential to their interpretation.
I feel that I learned many things from this article. Such as the specific terms of word choice like, 'Vagueness and Ambivalence', 'Verbal Runoff'. These terms stood out the most to me because I am very guilty of doing these things. As someone from that's part of Generation Z, I have been noticing how fast paced life is starting to become. Due to us having access to the internet we are expected to work very quickly, learn, and get the answers to anything in an instant. However, my personal experience with this ever changing work ethic has gotten pretty difficult. I enjoy taking my time and comprehending each and every action in everything I do. I would definitely consider myself a perfectionist. Unfortunately, since there are time constraints, I work very hard to put out as much work as I possibly can in order to reach deadlines. The effect that this fast paced lifestyle has on me is that I ramble a lot because there usually is no time for me to think about every small detail and meaning of my words. This bad habit has gotten me in some issues, like accidentally offending someone :((
ReplyDeleteOverall, this article did give me lots of insight on the specific language issues that I had trouble identifying at the start.
My favorite quote was "Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." -Rumi
I love how this quote is insightful on what is impactful human communication while while having a theme of nature. The environment, whether that people, animals, and plants, it all really means a lot to me and I see it as the building blocks of life.
I think that it is important for all people to realize the impact of their words. Now people seem to be more passive with their words and do not fully understand the power our words have, especially when talking to someone that analyzes the words, the context, and the tone when having a conversation. A couple of statements that stood out to me were "We've learned to treat words lightly" which is completely true. We do not actively think about who can be hurt by the words we say or how we say them. The other statement that stood out to me was "“I” is a super-charged word. When you say, “I am,” the words that follow speak volumes – to yourself and others – about how you define yourself." When using the word "I" we are profiling ourselves and if a negative phrase is following the "I" then it can hurt the perception someone has of you or hurt the perception they have of another person. What we say has a direct impact on how others feel about us.
ReplyDeleteThe quote I chose is "Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can only be forgiven, not forgotten." This quote stood out to me because it is true. Words are so powerful, it can completely change how someone perceives you based on what you say, and even if it is forgiven, they will not forget what you say and it will always linger in the the back of their mind.
From reading this article, I learned that we as a society tend to overlook the power of our words and often lessen their value through the ways we tend to use them. The part that resonated with me most was the "verbal runoff" section. I both agree and disagree with the notion that we should condense our thoughts into the simplest format (as if we were trying to simplify a math equation or something). While in some instances I feel that using fewer words gives off the impression of greater wisdom, I don't think fewer means better in all cases. If all of society aligned itself with that viewpoint, I feel like the creative nature of humans would be stunted. I think that description and lengthy sentences and overall fluff is usually beautiful in the context of its use. Songs, poems, books, most forms of entertainment would be lacking if the world got to the point. We need some drama ;)
ReplyDeleteAfter looking at the quotes, I would say that my favorite would be "Words are free. It's how you use them that may cost you". This is my favorite one for a few reasons, #1 it has a different message or tone to the other quotes. I think the other quotes sound pretty much the same but this one just stands out and has that special something. I also like this quote because I think that America often forgets the cost of our words, especially when harping about freedom of speech. Yes, everyone can say what they want, but that doesn't excuse you from the consequences that come with those words.
"Words can inspire. And words can destroy. Choose yours well." - Robin Sharma
ReplyDeleteLanguage is often much more powerful than we give it credit for. This article has made me ponder just how often the words of others that will play in my head, the good and the bad. How much those words have impacted me is immense, whether it be criticism or a kind word, language has shaped our mental landscapes. They can change our emotions or carry important news. Simple words can change the trajectory of a lives, so we must treat them with care. All words. Not just words that we use with our parents or our friends, but also our colleagues and to strangers. A kind word can brighten a day while a negative word can ruin one. We have the grand power to decide how our community evolves from the inside out. Through just our language, we can be the change that we would like to see in the world.
So beautifully said! I especially like your comment that "a kind word can brighten a day, while a negative word can ruin one." How true that has been for me in my life, and I am sure for almost everyone.
DeleteFrom this article, I learned that the words we use to speak and write have huge impacts on our society, but since they are used so often we do not think think much about word choices and we have "learned to treat them lightly". I also learned that the way we use words depends on our personalities. Cat Thompson points out 4 ways that people will use their words, The power of "I", Manipulation and Coercion, Vagueness and Ambivalence, and Verbal Runoff. The one I resonate with the most is Vagueness and Ambivalence, but mainly the paragraphs toward the end because I feel like whenever I talk I use general language and I want to get better at using better terms to describe something. Also because most of the time, I don't realize it, but sometimes when I talk I sound rude/snouty and I don't mean to be, it's just how I talk and I know I need to get better at it.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote from those pictures is by Sigmund Freud, "Words have a magical power. They can either bring the greatest happiness or the deepest despair". This is my favorite one because it is so true! It also goes to say how we need to use our words wisely because we can either give others happiness or we could push them down just by using our words. Also because it makes me think about all the times someone has told me something nice about myself and about when people were rude to me. It is so important to use our words for good because we can really just hurt someone and push them into depression. That is how powerful words are.
The article brought up many valid points that I have witnessed in my life. The way that we utilize language is very important. For instance, in my life, I feel as if I use "I'll try" much too often. When a situation that contains adversity appears in my life, I tend to respond with "I'll try" which gives myself permission to fail. It also has a physiological effect in which my passion and fury in the task getting completed significantly drops because failure becomes an option. Also, in a quick and fast-moving world, I also learned it is important to be direct in your questions. It is a disservice to people to dance around questions and be indirect because frankly put, they have things to do. Lastly, one interesting perspective I valued in the article was to embrace silence. The value of your words increases if you use less of them. It is better to not ramble on or fill silence just to fill the silence, but embrace it and use it as an opportunity to listen to others. In this manner, when you speak, people will value your words even more.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote is the verse of Proverbs 12:18, “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” I like this quote the most because I couldn’t agree more with its message. While some may believe that words do not have incredible power, the reality is that they actually do. However, with great power comes great responsibility. Words can be utilized to heal just as much as they are to hurt. However, when words are coming from the right people, the wise, it is such a magnificent power. The world, including myself, should strive to have the traits of the wise, helpful, and overall good through the usage of our language.
LOVE this--especially your point about responsibility! Great insights.
DeleteAfter reading the article, I found it really opening about how my words can affect other people and how words affect me. Learning that the word "I" has so much power with what comes after makes me want to be better about what I say and be more real with my wants and desires. I also thought it was interesting to hear about the differences being direct and indirect can have on the response I receive. Most of the time I am more indirect with asking for help because I usually start with, "Are you busy?" "What are you doing tomorrow?" or questions like that because I don't want to come off as forceful with my desires. I've had conversations with my mom even telling me to be more direct with my words and see what happens, and I'm really curious to see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteAs for my favorite quote, I really liked, "Words are free, it is in how you use them that may cost you". I was touched by this because it reminded me that words are free and I can use them however I want, to encourage, to help, to communicate. But I can also use them for negative ways and that will cost me with how people see me and interact with me. I think that when words are used more negatively, it costs them their reputation and perception because those are the words they chose and that person was hurt by them. Words do have power and we can see that there are major consequences from speaking out good and bad and we have to be aware of them and the things we say. My mom always says we need to filter our thoughts before we speak them and think about the consequences and affects on good or bad remarks and I completely agree.
LOVE your insights. I am curious to hear how it goes for you, too! You have great leadership potential. This is a great article to reflect upon!
DeleteI really loved this article because it has so much truth to it and talks about things that aren’t acknowledged very often. A couple of things really stood out to me. The first was how positive language can have life-changing impacts. Simply by changing the words we use, we can change our attitude towards ourselves and others. I particularly liked how it talked about the significance of “I am” statements because I feel like too often I make these statements as a joke, but over time they seem to become a reality. I am excited to try to catch these statements and turn them around for the better and see what impacts that has. The second thing I liked was how it said that silence is ok, and every second doesn’t have to be filled with “verbal runoff.” This is something that I have realized personally because I tend to talk a lot to fill in empty space or “awkwardness” but really I end up saying a bunch of things that I regret, and in the long run, I’m in a worse place than I would have been otherwise. By simplifying conversations and not feeling obligated to “talk just to talk” I feel like it would bring a whole new sense of security and comfort.
ReplyDeleteI really like the quote from Proverbs that says “gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” This quote was my favorite out of those given because of its reference to words bringing life and health. Many of the other quotes talk about the consequences of choosing the wrong words, and this just made me feel anxious about all the times I’ve said the wrong thing. I would rather think about the good potential that words can bring. What I appreciate most about language is how we can use it to lift other people up, and how even the smallest compliment can brighten someone’s entire day. I love seeing when people hear something about themselves and get really happy, and I love it when that happens to me too. Words have the potential to completely change someone’s outlook and push them to grow and become who they wouldn’t ever become otherwise.
This article showed me how powerful words really are and the impacts that they have on people and society. I never realized this and how the way in which we speak and the words we use depends on our personality. For example, I find myself "watering down my words" in order tor prevent false promises or if I forget or make a mistake, at least I didn't put too much power into my statement. Also, I now understand the importance in being direct with our questions or statements when it is truly important, because it helps us get our point across and ensure that the other person understands. I need to try using this more in group project settings, for example, because when I notice that a person is not contributing to the work, I make it seem as if it is no big deal when in reality it is because the assignment is important. Furthermore, the section from the article that resonated with me the most was the 'verbal runoff' section because I find that it take me a while to get to the point in both my verbal words and written words as I tend to use lots of fluff in my language.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that I most enjoyed was " Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can only be forgiven, not forgotten". I liked this quote because it relates back to the golden rule of "treat others how you want to be treated" because we need to always be conscious of the words we use and who we are speaking to as we never know how it might affect someone. This relates to me because I feel that I am a pretty sensitive person so when people say certain things to me, I tend to always remember them. Which helps me realize that I should always speak to others how I would want to be spoken to, because of the power that words have and their impacts.
I loved this article and how it shed light on the true power of words and their impact on others. Furthermore, it brought to mind some of the subconscious ways we tend to manipulate our words, and in turn, others. I always try to be aware of what I say and how I speak to others as I never know what will resonate with someone else. The quote that spoke to me the most was " Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can only be forgiven, not forgotten." The words we use allow others to be the constant judge of our character and even though we may attempt to heal previous wrong doings by asking for forgiveness, that person will forever see those words as a representation of our character. I feel like this is even more important now in social media because often times more than one person is able to see the words we choose and the harsh affects it can have on others. These articles and quotes have inspired me to be better with my words and realize that even the smallest of phrases can have a big impact on someone else life.
ReplyDeleteThis article was so interesting to me. Learning about ways to communicate with others in a more proper way had me thinking about how I talk to others. Being sure about your answer and having confidence gives off a better impression than second guessing. An example that I read about this was "I can" against "I think I can." I got from this that knowing what you are saying and being straight forward comes off as a better attitude and people will view you as someone who gives off a good energy along with vibes that people want to be around. Another topic in the article that caught my attention was the manipulative language that we use. I have never thought of the word manipulative as a way to describe the kind of language where you drop hints instead of telling someone straight forward. The article speaks on how just asking or telling something to someone is better than making them slowly try to understand what you are getting at. I think that this relates to me and I can use this as a way to have better communication with the people around me. The last thing that I noticed from this article is how it talks about your words and how they define you as a person. In the descriptions above, I noticed a really amazing quote that caught my eye right away. It says, " If the words you spoke appeared on your skin, would you still be beautiful?" I really took thought into this quote because it is a great way to point out that what we say can define us. The words that we use towards others can greatly affect the way that people see us as a person and our reputation overall.
ReplyDeleteOne quote that stood out to me from the section above said, "Gentle words bring life and health; A deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." I love especially since it is from the Bible. This quote being Biblical means that the words you say can affect you spiritually, mentally, or physically, as i stated before. For example, taking the Lord's name in vain can make you look bad in front of other Christians, along with the fact that it does not please the Lord. This kind of goes alone with what I read in the article about how people will see you a certain way from the way that we communicate. Saying words that could come off as rude or hurt someone will give off the "deceitful" image, where as nice words will give off a beautiful image.This blog has really taught me how to use my words in different ways. I can now work out being more upfront with what I have to say but in a kind and fruitful way. I will not use my words to destroy, but rather to build up.
Loved how you analyzed the article and your quote so thoroughly. Very thoughtful!
DeleteAfter reading the article, I reflected on some of the language I use in my daily life, compared to how I write in projects and just general use. I find that when I talk to people I know, I tend to use more simple language and direct tones, as most of the time I just try and talk to amuse the person I talk to, like in jokes. However, compared to my language choice in writing, I tend to think about my words a lot more in order to create a more cohesive sentence flow. This directly relates to my chosen quote, “Don't use words too big for the subject...Otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something truly infinite.” This quote relates to how during normal conversations, I would emphasize my words and statements to make them more bold or humorous such as statements like, “Truely, your infinite big brain energy dwarfs that of star power.” Adding certain words can make my speech seem larger, however, most of these have become throwaway statements that really have no impact at all, or are forgettable, even though they probably shouldn't be.
ReplyDeleteVery insightful! I love the quote you chose. Everything C.S. Lewis says is so wise. :)
DeleteWhat I learned from that was that we guilt trip people with our words more often than I realize. For example how it mentions that we bend our words to get people to do something, well you would probably feel bad if you just told your friend you weren’t busy on that day, but you also wouldn’t help them. I never realized how easily you can be trapped by words. What resonates with me is the “I will Try part” as I know that that usually means the person will barely try or won’t do it like the article says. So I know that when someone tells me they will try, I will specify what they will try to do or I say, you mean you WILL do that favor, unless I know for sure they might not have time for it, in which case I will accept i will try or if I know they genuinely mean they will try
ReplyDeleteThe quote I liked best was “Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can only be forgiven, not forgotten.” Honestly this was my favorite because it's true. I know that personally if someone insults me and then apologizes I may forgive them, but it usually is still stuck in my mind for a few days. It is my favorite just because of how straight forward it was, pretty much everyone thinks that once they are forgiven everything is fine, but for the person they are wondering if it is true and it bothers them for a really long time, which is what this quote shows, which is why I liked it out of all the quotes, because most people don’t talk about that part of words, that it is never forgotten, but this quote brings up that part, which is why I like this quote best
Yes--it's hard to forget those words that hurt! Why we need to be careful before releasing them.
DeleteBased off the information in the article, I was able to learn and ponder the ideas and proposals it presented. I was quite intrigued with the idea about how words can manipulate people. It was interesting how instead of directly asking or telling someone something, that when you are indirect it gives it a sense of manipulation. However, I don't see how one would be more willing to assist or something to the effect by someone who was "beating around the bush". For me personally, when people are more direct, polite, and kind, I am more willing to help them and think about them in a better way. In a way, this also seems like a form of manipulation, only more positive. Another part from the article that I found interesting was the importance of short words being more powerful and long. I am not sure if I agree or disagree with this statement fully, because I can see both sides of the argument. I feel that when one is short and to the point it can be effective and give a powerful emphasis, but also when statements are drawn out and have more information, I get a sense of more importance.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that I liked the best was, "Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven and not forgotten." I liked this quote the best because I think it emphasized how little people think of how their actions truly and deeply affect someone and even after the conflict is over, and all is forgiven, that they still remember the incident. I think that this is a useful trait that we have because when we don't forget, we are able to watch out for similar situations and remember the bad consequences that happened from them. I think that this quote truly shows the cause and effects of negative words and how they can internally damage someone as well.
SO true!
DeleteAfter reading this article, I can pick out from conversations that I have had recently where I have caught someone using all the points she mentioned. The one that I use the most is being very vague, especially when I am writing. I also thought it was interesting that it is very common for people to use manipulation in their words even when you think you aren’t. It is very common for someone to say, “Hey, what are you doing tomorrow?” other than, “Can you help me tomorrow?”.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that stood out to me was, “Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.” -Rumi. This stood out to me because most of the time we use language to bring someone down and not to build them up. I love how Rumi compares our hurtful words to thunder and our words that lift others up to rain. It is so cool that someone thought of a comparison like that and made it something that could change someone’s perspective on how they treat others.
The article was not at all shocking in regards to the power that language possesses. What I found the most interesting was the suggestion to use "I" more often. At first I thought it was a strange assertion, but I think it makes a lot of sense and can lead to confidence and self-empowerment.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote was "Done to death by slanderous tongue" because I love the poetry in Shakespeare's words and the truth in them. The saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me" is not at all true- words can inherently hurt because as humans, we are evolved to require social and esteem needs (ref. to Maslow's hierarchy of needs). Naturally, negative feedback is bound to cause us to feel poorly. This quote is a little morbid, even, considering the rates of suicides and the plethora of stories regarding suicides incited by unkind words.
That quote is powerful to me, too! It's short, but so insightful!
DeleteTo me, this article showed me a different perspective on language. One of my favorite parts of this article was how it was explaining the impact of using the statements “I am” or “I can’t” can have on us, especially if we use those statements in a negative context. Instead, we should use more empowering statements and to me, that was a really big eye-opener. I like to perfect a lot of the stuff I am working on so I tend to use those negative statements when something doesn’t turn out how I wanted, instead, I will use more positive and empowering statements. After reading this article I realized just how important our words are. I never truly understood the impact of our words and how it could affect someone else. The words and phrases that we use could really change us in either a negative or a positive way, but I found it really interesting that words can have that much power. I never realized how we use our words to manipulate who we are talking to, sometimes we may even do it subconsciously if we don’t want to do something. It made me reflect on what I do, because I know that if someone asks me to do something but I am unsure if I want to then I will do exactly what that article said. Instead, I am going to try to say what I am thinking instead of trying to manipulate them. My favorite quote was “Words are free. It’s how you use them, that may cost you”. That was the quote that caught my eye because it is very accurate. You could say anything you want but there always consequences to what you say. Words are very powerful and could really hurt someone. Sometimes you could say something that could get you in trouble with your parents or cause you to get in an argument with someone. I think we need to be careful on what we say and how we say it.
ReplyDeleteI loved the article and the different types of ways we use language to communicate our ideas. The use of manipulation and coercion stuck out to me. I always found it fascinating how people could make others do something by putting more emotion into their words. Asking someone a favor directly gives the other person an option, yet implying a person's misery gives the other person a sense of sympathy and obligation to help them as they were most likely raised to do. It makes them feel like they need to help the person in pain in order to be a good person, and is usually incredibly effective, yet the concept is extremely toxic. Many people use manipulation to their advantage to get what they want, even if they other person doesn't want to do it.
ReplyDeleteI loved the quote "Words. So powerful. They can crush a heart, or heal it. They can shame a soul, or liberate it. They can shatter dreams, or energize them. They can obstruct connection, or invite it. They can create defenses, or melt them. We have to use words wisely." -J Brown. It struck me and I saw a connection between the quote and the article, especially about "they can shame a soul, or liberate it." I got to thinking how a lot of manipulation is used to shame others and guilt trip them into doing something a person wants. I feel as if manipulation is used to not just hurt the person, but to play at the soul. Most people are taught their righteous duty is to help others and be kind to those in need, so manipulation only uses that to its advantage.
Very insightful! Yes, words can be used to manipulate in such a toxic way. I loved that you highlighted the "shame a soul or liberate it." Makes us realize how much we can mean to a person if we use our words in wise, encouraging ways!
DeleteThe most important part of this article was the point tha tv the more words you use can make what you are saying less powerful. This reminds me of what Mr. Hiatt tells us in TOK when we make knowledge questions. I agree that this is true because it gets your point across very clearly and there is less room for interpretation. “My favorite quote was raise your words not your voice. It’s the rain that grows flowers not thunder.” I think this is important because it shows that the meaning behind something is more significant than the way it is presented. I think this can also apply to everything other than words because it is something that can be seen easily in a lot of areas.
ReplyDelete-Reese Padgett
After reading the article it really opened my mind to just how powerful words and their connotations. Very simple words like the word want and the work I have very powerful meanings, Before reading about this I never would have thought to look deeper into the meaning of the everyday usage of the common words around me, However I can now have the ability to understand just have impactful these words are. It brings up the idea about how your words can impact others so much and that it is important to choose your words carefully because even though you might forget them they’ll stick with the person you said them too forever.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that resonated with me the most was “Words have a magical power, they can bring the greatest happiness or deepest despair.” this quote stood out because it shows the powerful impact someone's words can have on another person. It also brings the idea that you can choose to say something that would bring someone up and make them happy or you can take the low road and bring then down. I think this is an impactful quote because it’s all about our choices and that we get to determine the one we make when it comes to our words.
Wow, I never realized how much words impacted our lives. I never noticed how powerful it is to use "I". From now on I am going to use "I" in more positive sentences, that way I can call good things into my life. This will be hard, considering that my lack of confidence causes me to say negative things about myself. Especially when it comes to talking about school related assignments. The "Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." by Rumi, is my favorite. That quote is my favorite because it relates the message to something that happens in real life. Since I have experienced both rain and thunder, I can relate to the quote and make a connection to what it is saying.
ReplyDeleteLanguage is very important due to the different situations we face in life. For example, you would not greet your teacher with "sup". I found the different types of tone and how it impacts a conversation very interesting.
ReplyDeleteSammi Lacey// When reading the article the one point that stuck out to me the most was the power of "I" when saying "I can" or "I can't" it has a big effect on yourself in a way that nothing else can really have on you when you say "I" it is in your head as you are talking to yourself and can make you super confident or super down on yourself another point that stood out to me in the point was changing your "I wants" into "I have" it can put into perspective how grateful you should be of the things you have and makes you think of all the good things you already have and those "I wants" can slowly turn into "I have" when you put your mindset to it. When reading over the quotes one that spoke out to me was "Words. So powerful, they can crush a heart, or heal it. They can shame a soul, or liberate it, They can shatter dreams or energize them. They can construct connect, or invite them. They can create defense, or melt them. We have to use words wisely". This quote is so powerful because everything you say can and will affect somebody no matter who they are and it puts into perspective how much you can move someone with your choice of words. It can help so many people or even hurt people when not used wisely. This quote is something everyone should read and think about.
ReplyDeleteYes -- that quote is so powerful. It shows the duality of word choice--how they have great power for good or evil, it's all up to us.
DeleteWords are a very powerful tool, and words that mean nearly the same thing can bring a certain light into the exact same situation, making the situation now seem as something positive or negative. For example using the phrase, "I can" leaves a positive message, however once you add in a simple conjunction, it becomes, " I can't" which is much more negative. The quote I selected was, "Words are free its how you use them, that may cost you". I felt that this quote is very powerful because it correlates to the power that words truly have, because anyone can say whatever they want, but certain actions come with certain responsibilities and consequences and the same certainly applies when speaking to other people but regarding to words not actions.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the passage, I saw how words truly impact people and how much power a word can hold. We need to watch what we say and how we say words because they can be taken out of context. An example we used in class would be words that are homonyms such as type. In today's culture there are multiple different slang words that are used in the English language such as dope and swag, but if used incorrectly, they can offend people. Words can also be used by authority to use their power such as parents. If someone went up to me and told me that I was stupid, I would not think much of it, whereas if my parents told me, I would think it's true. I believe words truly have power and the article helped me support my case.
ReplyDeleteBasically what I learned from that article is 1. Get straight to the point of what you're trying to say, don't be vague or ambiguous, and 2. you're language can have a stronger impact on yourself and the person you are communicating with if you use strong modality when using "I" and avoiding words with low modality altogether (e.g. "try", "guess", etc.). One thing that stuck out the most to me is this quote: "Because words are so often used automatically and unconsciously, we have learned to treat them lightly. In daily conversation, we speak the majority of our words from habit, convenience and social obligation rather than from clear intent," (Thompson, 2005).This surprised me when reading it because it's not something you really stop to think about all the time, how we use language so flippantly when it has the ability to be so powerful. Great and famous authors like Shakespeare and Ernest Hemingway don't have to be the only ones who can use language powerfully.
ReplyDeleteFrom these quotes that you gave us, my favorite is "Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." - Rumi This quote stuck out to me because in today's society, people try to get their point across by being louder than the opposing side, specifically in politics. But truly, only because someone is being louder doesn't bring more validity to their statement or make more people believe it.
I love your message that we can all use language powerfully. SO true!!
DeleteI thought that the article was very interesting. I learned that words are extremely powerful and the impact of out words is determined by how we use them. I think that it is very true that we as humans don't truly understand the importance of words and treat them very lightly when in fact they can make a huge impact. "There's a power in words, there's a power in being able to explain and describe and articulate what you know and feel and believe about the world and about yourself." This quote really stood out to me because it really exemplified how powerful words are. We as human beings each have different perspectives and feelings that we can only explain to each other with words which is why they are so powerful and important.
ReplyDelete"Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten." (Done by ???). The reason to why I chose this quote as my favorite is because not only are the words amazingly powerful but I have had these experiences before. I have talked poorly about someone and or their situation which then I apologize but what is an apology going to do??? When I apologize I have noticed that i am just giving them word an not what they really want. Really what are words going to fix a problem because I have no idea?? Also the wording of this quote is very true and simple for such powerful wording. From the last part of the quote where it says, "They can only be forgiven not forgotten" it really stood out because to let go of something you must forgive something or someone or it will have power over you which then you will never be able to forget. that is what I took from the articles.
ReplyDelete-Mason DoVico
This article allows me to think about how the power of words and communication actions are worth more than you think. I find it very interesting that daily no matter the judgment of someone their use of language is meaningful or negative in some way. Although the downside of this is when there is a use of words they can be abusive to another human, meaning that the words mean more than just saying them aloud.
ReplyDelete"Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they only can be forgiven, not forgotten."
This quote is very mind-opening, as anyone would think it is easier said than done. As I reread this quote it helps me understand that being powerful and risky with your words comes an alternate effect of someone's way of the world. This is my favorite because I feel as if there is something to be said you have to understand the consequences of that, this pertains to the "he" said "she" said as well as the self-doubt or envy that one has, at least that is what I believe in.
"Words have a magical power. They can bring the greatest happiness or the deepest despair." is my favorite quote I think it really encapsulates the idea that words have so much power over our thoughts, feelings, and sometimes actions. For example, someone could say "I love you", and this could become the reason for someone's greatest joy at that moment. Or they could have said "I DON'T love you", which could absolutely destroy someone. Also, word choices can convey a completely different message they what we mean to say and someone could get their feelings hurt because the wrong word was used. In addition, word choice is important in war propaganda which we learned a few weeks ago. This includes glittering generalities, euphemisms, slurs and more.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article, throughout my life I have always known that words themselves are very powerful but this fact doesn't cross my mind often. I have realized that everyone has more power than they actually with words alone. For example if you were to be communicating with a more emotional person vs a straight up person their reactions would both differ because of their personality or emotions. Words have so many capabilities and powers, that is why as well I always tend to think before I say, a word or phase can really hurt someone.
ReplyDeleteThe quote I found interesting was "Words can inspire. And words can destroy. Chose yours well." This quote really stood out to me because this phrase adds even more emphasis to how words can be powerful. We all have different emotions, view points and perspectives, this quote shows how someone can do so much with words alone.
I think that after reading this article I have realized that I should choose my words more carefully. For example, I should think more about the affect that my words will have on others before I say them. The quote that I chose is "Be careful with your words. Once they are said they can only be forgiven, not forgotten." I liked this quote because even if you are sorry for the things you say, they will always have a lasting impact.
ReplyDeleteI loved this article! I think it really showcases how detrimental words can be and how carefully people should choose them. It made me think about things I say and that often the idea that words hurt doesn't cross my mind. My favorite quote was, "Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can only be forgiven, not forgotten". I think this holds a lot of weight and serves as a reminder that heinous words can stick with a person throughout their entire lives.
ReplyDeleteI thought the article was incredibly accurate about how using "I" statements is a very self fulfilling prophecy. A lot of the times when I complain and say "I'm so tired" or something along those lines, it tends to be the case for a lot longer. I really liked the quote "Words are free. It's how you use them, that may cost you." It reminds of the current Chinese censorship controversy and how one private statement can turn into millions of dollars lost.
ReplyDeleteThis article was eye-opening for me. I realized many that I use many of these limiting phrases daily and that changing that could possibly change my attitude and the course of my life. The idea that our body follows our words really resonated with me. I feel we could all improve upon ourselves if we were to be more conscious with the language we use. The quote I chose is "Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." The article discusses how a few well chosen words can be much more powerful than when one rambles on and on. I noticed this quote is conveying the same message. It is not the volume or amount of words we use which makes them powerful, but which ones we choose to use. I also liked how this quote incorporated a metaphor which compared the use of words with rain and thunder. Well chosen and powerful words can lead to growth.
ReplyDeleteYes. LOVE that.
DeleteTrinity Lancaster:
ReplyDeleteWhat I learned is that your words are very powerful to other people. I don't really pay much attention to the war my words will effect other people. I learned from the article that words are very very powerful. They can make or break people honestly. They can drive people to do things they wouldn't normally do. They can also make people beyond happy. "Done to death by slanderous tongue" is my favorite quote from above. I feel like this quote has a significant place in our society today. Death can drive people to do unspeakable things, including take their life. I think this just proves my point more of that we need to watch what we say to people. We need to effect people in a positive way, and we can start by paying close attention to what we say. :)
Brooke Bronder:
ReplyDeleteI thought this article was very insightful about how we use language in everyday life. It brought up a very good point about how language is used in different contexts and for different purposes. I think it properly expressed the importance of using words to clearly say what we mean. My favorite quote was “Don’t use words, too big for the subject” because I think it summed up this point in the best way. If we aren’t specific with what we say and how we say it, then there is more room for interpretation by others. This can cause conflicts and tension between groups. We’ve all been in a situation that people are arguing for the same point or that you have a friend that uses large words in text conversation. Understanding the situation and who is your audience is a major part of communicating affectively.
Faith Dillon:
ReplyDeleteThe quote that I really liked was the one about being careful with your words. I really loved the part when it said they can be only forgiven, not forgotten. That statement is so true and I feel like I see it in my everyday life. I have seen multiple times when people have repeatedly told about who wronged them even after they supposedly forgave that person. I feel like words not only affect people in that moment but also influences who they are and what they think later in life. I loved this whole quote and I feel like everywhere needs to be reminded of how their words can affect a person in a negative or a positive way for the rest of their lives.
Carl Clayton:
ReplyDeleteThis article is a mental reflection to me that I should articulate my words with intentional context rather than being selfish and let the words fly out of my mouth and offend people. For me I have a happy/funny personality and with a talkative person like me the thought of words can hurt opens my eyes to treat others you want to be treated. I also feel bad because when I look back on it can see where people are uncomfortable when I say thing but they feel so bad they don't address it to me. I like the quote ¨Be careful with your words. Once they are said they can only be forgiven, Not forgotten.¨. This quote looks at the negative impact it can have on a person and it reminds me of when people say offencive thing to me and the impacts they have on my life. So This blog post brought me back to reality highlighting the fact of intentionality of word choice.-Carlyle Clayton Jr.
I really liked the “The Power of Language” article by Cat Thompson. I feel that it was really critical of language and that being that way helped to put into perspective the impacts that certain language has on an audience. It showed me personally that some language habits are subconscious and others conscious and that makes me desire to do more to fix some of my bad habits. I think that this article is eye-opening in the fact that whether or not you want to change your language habits, this article shows you just how much seemingly meaningless words or phrases used to express the same idea could have on the audience and the idea that you are trying to get across.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote from all that are listed is the last one by C. S. Lewis. He says “Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say ‘infinitely’ when you mean ‘very’; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite”. This quote spoke to me personally and I think it is mainly because I tend to exaggerate a lot when I talk. I use a lot of hyperboles in my everyday life and I definitely do the types of things that C. S. Lewis talks about. I’m the kind of person who can’t really say that hate is a strong word because I use it when I really should be using ‘don’t like’ or ‘don’t care for’. This quote made me realize how the words that I use limit my ability to communicate with others, especially the ones that I speak to on a regular basis and makes me more conscious to how I use certain words.
This article helped me better see the affect of words and how much of an impact they can have on people. It's helped me to see that while you may think what you're saying won't impact the person you're talking to however you may be really hurting someone. The quote that I chose was, "Be careful with your words. Once they are said they can only be forgiven, not forgotten." This quote shows that you need to think twice before you speak and give some thoughts into what you are saying to someone
ReplyDeleteNoah Craway
DeleteThe article allowed me to realize the affect of words and how those words, though they may seem small, can hurt someone severely. The quote that really helped me learn this idea is "Words are free, it's how you use them, that may cost you". This impacted me personally because I have a problem with the way I make things seem. I always say things that get interpreted in ways that I did't expect.
ReplyDeleteThis article was very eye opening to me, I am known to come off a certain way, and a lot of people cannot handle my humor. This shows me words mean a lot, the way you say things means a lot.The quote I chose was "be careful with your words, once said they can only be forgiven not forgotten". This is wise, it shows that the words you use will never be erased from your peers,this is what we as a society need to remember, even a joke can affect people tremendously.
ReplyDeletethis is cassidie seibel
DeleteI have always been told of the power of words mostly by my English teachers throughout the years but I don't think I ever really understood this concept. The older I get the more importance I give to words. Words have ended and started wars, words have placed people on high positions in society, words can determine the future of our world. Many people think that actions and money are what make the world run but there is always an idea composed of powerful words that fuel those actions. People should be more considerate with their words because if words can affect people on a large scale, just imagine what that could do to an individual.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was growing up my mother always referenced the power behind words. I was always dismissive as my young arrogant self did the usual 10 year old response, okay so can I go outside and play now? It wasn't until recently that I realized the power words truly hold. I now use them very wisely, and with purpose. The quote I admired most was "Words. So powerful, they can crush a heart, or heal it..." I feel that this quote speaks volumes as words can be used an interpreted in so many ways. They are so powerful, that they can turn our happiest of days into our worst and vice versa. There is so much meaning, and emotion behind each and every word.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that stood out to me most about the article was under the section of Vagueness and Ambivalence. It stated that sometimes the meaning of "I'll try" can be interpreted in many different ways. One of the ways in which it can be interpreted is as a way to default blame. This isn't something I would think about when saying "I'll try" but I think that when I hear someone say it, I do take it as minimal effort.
ReplyDeleteOf the above quotes the one thank stood out to me most was; "Be careful with your words, once they are said they can be forgiven, not forgiven." I'm a big fan of humor that pokes fun at someone, though my intention is to always be playful and funny I'm not sure that it always comes across that way. I need to understand that even though my words are said as a joke they have implications and that's something I'm working on.
The quote the resonated with me the most was "Raise your words, not our voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." I grew up being very self conscious about speaking to people, but I grew up with siblings who did not have that issue. When they would speak to my parents or to each other, sometime their words were enough to start arguments. I could even hear my dad saying "It's not what you said. It's how you said it," in the back of my mind. I find that words combined with a person's attitude can create meaning that could have negative interpretations as well as positive ones. Many people don't realize that when they are speaking, they may not sound they way they originally intended to sound, and how the person receiving those words interprets it is completely up to them.
ReplyDeleteFrom the article, I learned that words and the way you state them have a huge impact on how you and they are percieved. They can be used for manipulation, self depricstion and causing confusion in the listener through indirectness. Your goal while speaking should be to choose your words carefully, keep your language personal, be specific and direct, speak powerfully and positively, and be hopeful when addressing yourself. The thing that stood out the most to me was the power of the word "I" because I had never realized its significance in conversing with others and portraying your viewpoints. After oortraying their viewpoints, I understand it's significance and how the tone and understanding changes once the pronoun does.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that stood out the most to me was "Words are free, it's how you use them that may cost you." I chose this speciifc one because I hold it's meaning so true to myself. Words can hurt someone or hurt you and have a lasting damage if you dont use them wisely. Some people fail to realize that and use them recklessly and end up losing friendship and the people in their life that care for them.