Having studied language acquisition, I pay close attention to the nuances of expression. Perhaps too often I have judged a person to be biased in some way based on the connotations of their discourse. Indeed, the words we use when expressing feelings, thoughts and opinions do betray our biases; and therefore, serious consideration needs to be given to the basic principle of “sender and receiver”. Receivers must examine the intentions of the sender, and senders must measure their expressions in light of how their words might be received.
Nowadays there is no scarcity of rhetoric in America. Just engage with any form of media and it won’t take you long to pick up on the opinions and biases of the communicator. It is rare to find objectivity anymore, and sensational journalism is the modus operandi for most modern-day news outlets. Indeed, the term “fake news” is now included in the lexicon of many individuals and has surfaced to be a critical component of literacy instruction in the classroom as well. Young minds rarely see the danger in fake news, but rather enjoy the amusement and the game-play it inspires.
Language is dynamic, to be sure; and it is fascinating to study how it changes over time. But there is a danger involved in how forms and modes of communication evolve, and it behooves us to pay close attention to what connotations and underlying messages are being presented. Language is a powerful weapon, capable of inflicting great harm. History proves that evil achieves much through rhetoric. Simply studying the propaganda campaign of Hitler’s Nazi regime reveals that Goebbels’s strategy as Propaganda Minister was guided by the maxim, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”
There is a temptation to “write-off” the barrage of the spoken and written word as mere freedom of speech granted to all in the U.S. Bill of Rights. This line of thought must be countered with wisdom that recognizes the power of rhetoric, however. Few would argue that a recent President of the United States could have greatly benefitted from filtering his expressed communication. This is also true of many celebrities who assume they have a platform to influence public opinion based on their celebrity status. Indeed, many who are granted the privilege of being in the public eye are aware of the need to filter their rhetoric. Language incites reaction; and it is contingent upon those with influence to consider the reactions their freedom of expression fosters.
Though we may feel powerless to change current societal norms for communication, we can start by practicing three very simple disciplines: 1.) Paying attention to the rhetoric we hear for the purposes of determining the underlying intent; 2.) Filtering our own spoken and written expression to present a positive and objective perspective; and 3.) Measuring our response to the rhetoric of others so it is tempered with reason rather than an emotional reaction.
At the outset, we must genuinely think about what others are communicating or we are in danger of jumping on some unnecessary bandwagon of the “latest and greatest” line of thinking. This is the danger of propaganda. There are synonyms for most words, and we must consider the tone of the specific words chosen in order to determine the intent of the “sender”. Additionally, if we don’t try to determine underlying intent first, we may find ourselves engaging in an visceral reaction which has the potential to foster unfruitful argument. We cannot allow ourselves to have a knee-jerk response when the words of others threaten to evoke anger, disgust or even agreement. Finally, we must measure our own choice of words so that we are not engaging in the danger of overgeneralizing or other forms of propaganda. Being aware of our own internal dialogue can help us temper our responses as well as our emotions.
The wisest people I’ve known are those who respond instead of react. If you observe them during a time of discourse, you can see that they are objectively thinking and processing as they listen. They maintain a calm demeanor for good reason because they know the danger of reacting too quickly. There are defined strategies for listening actively that help keep the dialogue on a more objective level. Using strategies like paraphrasing can diffuse the emotion of the message. A measured and filtered response is critical to preventing irrational behavior.
The bottom line? Guard thoughts and words during communications and interactions. The book of Proverbs in the Bible presents many verses which guide the wisdom of a measured response. Perhaps this wisdom can further serve to help all senders and receivers of the plethora of expressions knocking at the doors of our thinking.
Wisdom from the book of Proverbs:
“When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” — Proverbs 10:19
“Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” — Proverbs 17:28
“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.” — Proverbs 18:2
“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” — Proverbs 21:23
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” — Proverbs 15: 1, 2 and 4
