What is a word you feel that too many people use?
Articulated speech is significant in human communication, representing the power of word in influencing interactions. The journey of language from rudimentary gestures to complex grammar and semantics is the saga of social evolution and development. Languages evolve and adapt over time, differ regionally, and impact societal communication. They are influenced by the environment and upbringing, which affects vocabulary and communication styles. Using words wisely to foster positive interactions and resolve conflicts is the key. Inappropriate language can be damaging. A thoughtful approach to speech has profound effects on relationships and society.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Articulated speech plays a crucial role in human communication, reflecting social evolution and language development.
- Language changes over time and varies regionally, impacting how individuals communicate and interact.
- The power of word can bridge divides or create conflicts, depending on their usage and context.
- Effective communication requires careful selection of words, self-restraint, and awareness of their impact.
- Using language judiciously is essential to maintain positive relationships and avoid misunderstandings.
An important gift
The Almighty has endowed human beings with many gifts, each surpassing the others in its qualities and benefits. One of the most important things to human beings is the power of articulated speech. It helped them communicate with each other and convey their thoughts.
Call of animals and birds
The natural gift of communication is bestowed upon other higher groups of animals, like birds and mammals, also. Though devoid of well-developed vocal cords, they are incapable of articulating sounds into meaningful words and sentences. They communicate by making different sounds at different pitches or using waves to communicate like whales do by echolocation.
Communication started
Humans honed this natural gift. They started communicating with each other. Initially, they used different body and hand gestures. Later, they communicated by growling and groaning.
(a) Speech refined
Humans coined words for different things and feelings. Initially, their speech was like lisping. It became refined at a later stage. Infants open their eyes, their vagitus is welcoming. They can’t speak except for crying and yelling. Gradually, with growth, the child starts picking words and starts lisping, which amuses adults. After stammering during the early stage of learning, a child attains fluency in speech.
(b) Language systemised
The articulated words are sentences which convey a thing. After learning to speak, people organised words to form sentences. This structure allows sentences to convey meaningful information, emotion, or feeling. This gave rise to grammar and semantics, making word power effective. It laid certain rules to obey for a proper sentence structure. It differs from language to language. (Britannica)
(c) Languages are like living beings
Humans have articulated speech. They use language for communication. Language behaves like a living being. Words are born, grow, develop, and after some time, become obsolete. The semantics and grammar also change according to time and space. Shakespearean English differs completely from that of modern English. It is equally applicable to other languages as well. Initially, Hindi, for example, was not refined and was written in a crude manner. This is clear in the novels of Devki Nandan Khatri. He was a notable Hindi writer of olden times who wrote his famous novel “Chandrakāntā”.
Expression of thoughts
The basic purpose of a language is to convey thoughts. Other things come later. A non-English speaking person can communicate in their broken language using a mix of words and gestures. A tourist experiences difficulty in communicating with local people when visiting a non-English-speaking country or region. A person from a remote area, speaking a vernacular language, finds it difficult to comprehend others. This occurs even though they speak the same language as their country.
(a) Words are innocent
Words are innocent; their usage is not. The usage gives power to the word. People use them according to local convention and meaning. In some regional languages, a few words are offensive, while in another region, the same word is treated as normal. The dialect and speaking habits, compounded with the wealth of words, decide the mental status of a person.
(b) intelligent or fool
An innocent nocturnal bird, the owl, for instance, is often used to denote a foolish person. In certain languages and cultures, it is a symbol of stupidity. An idiot is “Ulloo” in the Urdu or Hindi language. Yet, in some cultures, including the Sanātan tradition, owls are considered wise and sagacious. Their group is called “Parliament”.
Wealth of words
The purpose of the above deliberations is to show that society, people, and individuals use words based on their vocabulary. The words contribute to and influence vocabulary. It depends on the strata the person belongs to. The language of hooligans and ruffians is rough, harsh and abusive. Crude language and oft-repeated words are the signature of their class.
(a) excellent tools
Words are excellent tools. They can bridge a trench or create a gully. Judiciously used good words can act as a sealant to join broken hearts and relations. Contrarily, unwise and crude words can lead to doom. Things and truth conveyed appropriately, without raising voice and using distorted words, make an impact. Sugarcoating sometimes pays, but a bitter pill is equally necessary. Both things, nevertheless, need to be in a calculated measure of dose and time. A parable of a king and his most favoured elephant illustrates the point well.
(i)The king and his elephant
The king loved his most favoured elephant and took good care of it. He specially appointed a caretaker to look after his elephant. Days passed peacefully. One day, to the utter dismay of its caretaker, the elephant died. It became a humongous problem for him to convey it to the king. He was afraid for his life.
(ii) Careful delivery of words
The caretaker mused deeply and went to the king with his submission. He humbly wondered before the monarch that the elephant was neither moving nor respiring. He further said that the mighty animal was sleeping. It was not moving its legs or trunk. Nor was it eating food. While he was continuing, the exasperated monarch yelled in desperation, “Is the elephant dead?” Realising who said what, the king’s rage volatilized. It solved the whole problem.
(b) Power of words
The power of words and their wise use saved the king from taking a drastic step. They prevented him from falling into a deep, dark pit of dejection and remorse.
(c) Language is collective
Language is not the legacy of a class or a particular person. It is collective and developed by joint efforts. It becomes fluent with use. Appropriate use of words is an effective tool which can do wonders. The gargantuan and convoluted problems are solved by dialogue. Complicated international issues and relations are resolved at the talking tables. Even the hovering dark clouds of war can be dispersed by meticulous dialogues. Putting things Effectively putting things according to time and situation results in amicable solutions. Hostility becomes neutral, if not friendly. It is the power of words and the art of using them.
(d) Judicious use of words
The use of words depends on various factors. This includes the surroundings in which a person lives. A child easily picks up words other than their Mother tongue. They start using them often without understanding their meaning or context. Sometimes, the word is offensive or derogatory, and using it is harmful to the personality of a child. The child’s family, parents, and elders need to supervise and protect them from such language.
(e) Self-restraint is necessary
In a heated discussion, people lose their cool and use unparliamentary language. They utter inappropriate, offensive words which are not in good taste. People become aggressive during Parliamentary debates and panel discussions. They often cross the border and use derogatory words. It is where self-restraint comes into play.
(f) Avoid scathing words
In family affairs, unpalatable situations often arise. This often leads to acrimonious verbal fights between the couple living together under a nuptial obligation. Both try to scathe each other by using piercing words and phrases in the most sarcastic and demeaning way. It is the most common and frequent battleground seen in almost every family. Venting out emotion is a necessary thing. It eases out the pent-up anger and ventilates the mind. In such a situation, one must be careful and not use scathing words. It is easier said than done, but an honest effort can heal the wounds fast.
Prevention is better
Gifted with intellect and speech, humans are expected to be decent and behave that way. The so-called “animal instinct” is often seen coming out in humans with its ferocious consequences. Using bad or inappropriate words leads to many unpalatable situations which a person has to repent for throughout their life.
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