Importance of Words

Remember how we mentioned that there are innumerable ways of transmitting a message? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’ll leave you a link. But it’s true, a message can come in any shape and size, with many or little accessories. That’s not why we’re here today though, in this post I’ll be regarding one of the key and most raw materials you’ll be able to find in one of the most renown and common ways of transmitting a message, words.

What are words? I’d suppose most (if not everyone) reading this blog must know what they are. I mean, you’ve already encountered at least a couple dozen just to get to this point! Either way, here’s a quick definition: we could say that words are a species of symbols or signs, that are formed by using one or more than one other symbols known as letters (at least in our alphabet). On their own they may not mean anything to someone, and that’s because they’re social constructs. So basically a word means something because we as a group give it that meaning. Now, add a bunch of different random rules that end up making “sense” after a few generations of being implemented and boom! You’ve got yourself a language. 

Now, back to our main topic, words. These wonderful little beings we use everyday, but… do we actually give them any thought? I doubt it. As I’ve said, words have a significance tied to them, and said significance is given to them by us individuals, therefore, there shouldn’t exist the possibility for more than one word to carry the exact same significance. Nonetheless synonyms exist. 

I know, I know, most of you must be saying to yourselves “but synonyms don’t mean the same, they’re just similar based on context or other factors. And to you I have to say that you’re absolutely correct. But if that’s the case, why do we use synonyms as if they were exactly the same word as the original? 

Words have a thing called value, even if it doesn’t seem like it, every time we read or listen to someone, we value the words they have. And, believe it or not, certain words have different impacts on us. 

Most people when they try to write something in a formal or academic fashion, they try to replace “simple words” with more complex or less frequent words/ideas. Of course, there normally wouldn’t be anything wrong with this, but sometimes leaving the more simple words in has much more of an impact than you’d think. It’s very crucial that people start to understand the following, simple words or phrases aren’t equivalent to bad or poor expression. 

What you’re looking for is to have an impact on another individual, and sometimes a simple phrase or two will do the trick. This is the true value of words. 

As a small closure I’d like to mention a personal anecdote regarding this concept. About a year back, I was chatting with a very close friend. Because of circumstances I’m unable to recall, we ended up talking about the importance of words, she ended up mentioning a book that marked her a bit. Sadly, I’m unable to remember the title, but the general concept is still quite clear. It was about a young boy who decided not to pronounce certain words, but then a time arrived when he desperately needed them. Nonetheless, since he had chosen not to pronounce them, the words had gotten “angry” and never let the young boy speak them again. Of course this is clearly a fiction, and is oriented to a younger audience. At first glance the concept may seem a bit dumb, but it gets an idea across, and that is that certain situations demand the use of a specific word and none other for the best of results. 

As a final mention, there is a section of a complex linguistic theory written by the investigator Ferdinand de Saussure. He regards a sign theory inside the field of semiology, having a heavy emphasis on linguistics as mentioned. At some point he dedicates a whole section to the value of words. I highly recommend giving it a read, if not, I’ll probably write about his theory at some point, at least from a general porn of view.