USE OF WORDS

Use of words

Words, by themselves, are static or inactive. They have no power to entertain, produce change, encourage , show love, emotions , comfort or move others to action. It is only when they are chosen, combined and delivered that they come to life. So how do we use words effectively?

The choice of words -

Inside every dictionary and thesaurus are thousands of words. Let's consider the everyday, common words to be "ten-cent" words and the uncommon, less-often used words to be "fifty-cent" words. A writer or speaker that makes heavy use of fifty-cent words will quickly lose his reader or audience.

Why is this? Unfamiliar words slow down the response time and leave the reader or listener trying to figure out the meaning behind them.

For this reason, the words we choose should flow along smoothly if we want our message to be understood, Tip: Never use a fifty-cent word if a ten-cent word will do. For example boisterous when we can use noisy.

The combination of words -

How we combine words to form a thought, a sentence, a statement or paragraph is also important. Too often, we "tell" our reader or audience something instead of "showing" them with an effective combination of words.

Take, for example, the following statements: “Pedro was mad when he went upstairs. He was angry with the coach." While these sentences do state the facts, they fall a bit flat. Plus, we don't know how mad Pedro was or what his coach did to upset him.

Now, combine various words to put more emotion in those sentences: "Pedro slammed the door, threw his bag on the sofa and stomped upstairs. His mother heard him holler, "I play football much better than Rolando!"

By using words like "slammed, threw, stomped and holler," the writer shows us Pedro is furious - without ever telling us that he is mad. We also learn that Pedro is a football who’s been replaced by someone named Rolando.

It takes a little planning to choose, combine and use words effectively, but the impact they make is worth the effort. Notice, there are no fifty-cent words in the revised sentences above. Each word is easily understood. Woven together, they make a powerful impact.

The delivery of our words -

There are other things that are factors when using words effectively. Without the attention of our listener or reader, we fail to communicate. For instance, before giving our children instructions, we should make sure they are giving us their full attention. Only then should we clearly state what we expect or need. No yelling is necessary - if we have their attention, they will hear us.

Delivery also matters when giving a speech. In order to gain the attention of our audience, we need to "connect" with them immediately. Good speakers open with a brief personal experience,anecdote,  an interesting quote or an appropriate joke. When we capture the attention of our audience, they feel connected to us. This helps ensure they will pay attention to the rest of our presentation.

In a persuasive speech, the words we choose and the way we deliver them helps sway the audience to consider our viewpoint. A good delivery may include facial expressions, gestures, emotion and simple object lessons.

In an informative speech, we must speak clearly and present our material in

an organized, professional manner. Charts and graphics are often presented with informative speeches to help the audience gather new information.

For an entertaining speech, the delivery is less formal. Often, lots of gestures, movement, emotion and props are part of speeches meant to entertain others.

The impact of our words -

Once our words have been penned, printed or spoken, they are released to do their work. Their impact may be short-term or prolonged, depending on the topic and how we present it. Some of the greatest speeches in history demonstrate the effective use of words. Consider these two examples:

“The only tribute they would pay would be turkeys in the shape of spears and corn in the shape of arrows” (Maya chief Nachancan 1531) due to this  Maya defeated the Spanish and old Chetumal in Belize became a place of refuge for Maya fleeing the Spanish rule.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And where I go ye know, and the way ye know.”

(The lord Jesus Christ John 14:1-3) now chirstain have the hope of a returing saviour

"one day my four little children . . . will not be judged by the color of their skin but by their character."

(Dr. Martin Luther King gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech on August 28, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.) this cause equal rights for black americans

If our words are to be effective in this way, they must produce the desired result or outcome. This is why we choose them wisely, combine them properly and delivery them passionately. In doing so, we transform static words into lively messenges . This is how we touch the hearts and lives of others. This is how those speakers who've gone before us continue to impact our world today.