MURDERED WITH WORDS

Our ability as humans to communicate using formalized systems of language set us apart from other living creatures. We live in a world where ignorance, bias, and bigotry are growing at an alarming rate. 

The words you utilize define you as a person, they are powerful, they give you the ability to dominate and set the conversation and global agenda.

The Association of American Colleges and Universities has listed public speaking as being a "core skill" critical for intellectual development, career, and civic engagement.

Whether language makes us superior to other creatures is debatable, especially when words are utilized to insult, attack, or dehumanize another person. We all brush off words as bad taste but they can be more dangerous than a physical assault. 

As with a physical assault, a verbal insult or attack dehumanizes the victim. Careless, hurtful, negative words are like daggers that penetrate deeply and then severely wound that person at the soul or destroy their reputation and career.

In reality, words have no meaning other than the interpretation you give them. For example, What do we mean by the word beautiful? It depends on whom you ask. Studies show that words are significantly shaped by culture, history, and geography. The closer the relationship between the giver and receiver, the easier it is for either of them to hurt one another or convince each other.

We see carefully crafted utilization of words by advertising which can prey on your weaknesses, your fear, your dreams of success, or happiness to sell products or subliminally embed an idea into your brain.

Then there is a new generation of journalists who in an effort to force their personal biases and/or are paid by politicians to convince you - utilize carefully crafted words to demean and turn the public against another person.

So how do words embed themselves into society? Every year academics, amateurs, professors, students, professionals, writers, teachers of The American Dialect Society, a 131-year-old organization get together to study words and select so-called "words of the year". Many of these words become permanent additions to our vocabulary.

A few of the choices for 2010-2019 years include:

Meme: a shared cultural item in the form of a phrase, image, or video circulated online.

Selfie: a photograph that one takes oneself, shared on social media.

IMPOTUS: a derogatory reference to President Trump which references efforts to impeach him.

Ok boomer: retort to an older person who is expressing out-of-touch or condescending views.

Nobody: phrase mocking someone providing an unsolicited opinion.

Self-partnered: a single person.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

President of a global government and military defense multidisciplinary research and strategic marketing development firm. Projects include Corporate Technology Commercialization through the U.S. National Laboratories. She is an award-winning video producer, multimedia and marketing strategist whose awards include best documentary and public service TV Commercials for the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, with a demonstrated history of working in the market research industry. Skilled in Analytical Skills, Government, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Emergent Technologies Management, Computer Technologies and Operational Planning. Strong business development professional, advanced degrees from New Mexico State University and the University of Texas. Restrepo is also the Chief Executive Officer of Professional Global Outreach.