They are just words.
Are they though?
In the sense of, “what makes a word a ‘bad’ word,” why is that we use the common known cuss words and not say, “pinwheel,” or “cobbler,” or “wax paper,” or “unicorn breath?” Oh I understand there is a story behind the “f word” and the “s word,” for example. But, throughout history insults and “bad” words have changed. So on one hand I do understand how one might conclude, “they’re just words.”
On the other hand, words have context. We string a few words together to form a sentence. String a few sentences together and a mental picture can be constructed. Words can birth and nurture ideas. Words can inflame and words can comfort.
One can use words to lie and sabotage, even bring about murder. One can use words to express loyalty and love, and words perhaps even heal.
What gives a word special meaning? And who assigns a word special meaning: the one speaking them or the one listening to them; the one writing them, or the one reading them?
We lend voice fluctuation to our spoken words. Words can drip with sarcasm, disdain, cruelty. Words can ooze lust, jealousy, or ardor. We use words, specific words, to emphasize our anger, our displeasure, our sadness, our regret, our admiration, our love.
Energetic folks and shy folks use words differently. Children and adults use words differently. Men and women use words differently. Cultures and nationalities use words differently. We speak differently in turn to our children, to our spouse, to our neighbors, to our friends, to our extended family, to our coworkers, to total strangers.
Is it that words themselves have power, or do the words become powerful because of how someone wields them?
Are words, “just words?” I don’t think so. I think they have meaning, have purpose. If the eyes are the windows to our souls, then words are the mirrors to our hearts.
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Topic: TV gone to Pot? (Read 33873 times)