Do Not Commit Verbicide or Verbiage: Reflecting on the Word Smart

Words are not static but evolve with time, often reflecting changes in culture, philosophy, and human priorities. This evolution could create confusion if the original intent of the word is changed.

Precise terminology is a cornerstone of scientific and technological communication. It ensures that ideas, findings, and theories are conveyed with clarity, accuracy, and consistency.

The meaning of technical language evolves dynamically with technological developments sometimes aiding understanding, but other times promoting confusion. I find myself reflecting on the terms we use to define new technologies, recently on the word Smart, on Smart Grid.

The pressure to adopt new terminology often leads to the proliferation of catchphrases that intend to capture the sophistication of emerging techniques that often fail to deliver.

Re-reading Studies in Words, by CS Lewis, has intensified my awareness of jargon and buzzwords, which frequently obscure truth rather than enhance communication. The misuse of language can manipulate, deceive, or inflate ideas with unnecessary complexity.

The author called attention to two linguistic sins: Verbicide, the murder of a word, by inflation or party interests and Verbiage, the use of a word as a promise to pay which is never going to be kept.

Recently, a friend of mine asked me how the author would analyze the word Smart. My quick research based on the pattern he uses in Studies in Words would go like this.

First, he would explore the historical, cultural, and etymological context and development. The fact that Smart comes from the Old English Smear, meaning “causing sharp pain” and it later became associated with "sharp intellect."

Secondly, he would look at the current multiple meanings related to intelligence and style. But also, the superficiality of the current use, which focuses on external qualities, pragmatism and efficiency.

Lastly, I think he would favor a balanced view of smartness which includes wisdom and humility.

Cheers ...

Merry Christmas - In the beginning there was the Word - And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.

Paulo