Words, Glorious Words

"The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms."

-Socrates
Greek Philosopher who wrote nothing down
but was immortalized in Plato's dialogues
(470-399 BCE)

"So difficult it is to show the various meanings and imperfections of words when we have nothing else but words to do it with."

-John Locke
Philosopher
(1632-1704)

"Words differently arranged have different meanings, and meanings differently arranged have a different effect."

-Blaise Pascal
Philosopher & Mathematician
(1623-1662)

"It depends on what the meaning of the word "is" is..."

-William Jefferson Clinton
42nd President of the United States
(1946-

"Difficult to speak of tomorrow's ideas with the words of yesterday. Haven't we always migrated to the future on a highway paved with fresh new words?"

-J. R. St John
Executive & Counselor
(1952 -

Words. Fail.

Has our forest of quotations made the point? Words (and language) are slippery. Getting a "grip" on meaning requires nerves of steel and a clear intention. Insight, reflection and careful planning are required to craft a workable Presentation, Conference Call or - Wedding Vow.

In our experience, people both presume and assume too much; believing (erroneously) their own private definitions and perspectives to be completely understood and accepted by everyone else in the wider world. It's only in the silent self-review after the misunderstandings, upsets and arguments that one stops to ask, "I wonder what they thought I meant by the word 'Obey?'"

Applications:

1. Personally
Hit the dictionary every so often, or Google a word and check out its origins and the evolution of its meaning. You'll be surprised, entertained and perhaps expanded as your command of the language grows.

2. At Home
* "What do you mean by that?" may be the most powerful phrase a family member can voice. Allowing kids to define their intentions, interpretations and terms gives them permission to "stake out their territory" in a discussion. Nothing matures a teenager quite so quickly as having to think through their meanings before they denounce everyone over twenty...
* The fatal mistake: assuming that just because you live "together," that you actually share the same universe...
* Be careful with "Obey" - people are touchy...

3. At Work
* Fusion's Law: "Departmental Intelligence is inversely proportional to Interdepartmental Understanding & Co-operation."
* The larger the vocabulary over in IT; the greater the likelihood of being misunderstood. (Do those guys relish leaving mere mortals in the dark?)
* Portfolio Teams are universally ungrasped and therefore, undervalued behind the walls of their analytical jargon.
* Lawyers and Doctors have made a fetish out of their unique language, culture and terminology. But if the PhDs have walls, the JDs and MDs have moats - and alligators. Do they do it on purpose - to create a "Union Shop?"
Be the hero at work! Deploy that magic phrase; "What do you mean by that?" The walls will come tumbling down!


Misunderstood words construct the linguistic and cultural "walls" that enumerate and reinforce the differences between our separate universes. Words fail. Though we grudgingly respect our experts and specialists, love is hard to muster. Yet, it is the "expert who appears ordinary" through the artifice of common language, who restores the gift of our shared humanity. Words fail. But the sharing of our evolving meanings is the beginning of wisdom and the force which creates our combined universe.

Words can separate. Words can integrate.
Words can wound. Words can heal.
Words can bring us together.


Your choice: Define your terms.
"Obey!"