The ‘Power’ of Language

Viorica Marian wrote a book with the very title - The Power of Language. Language alters what we remember, how we perceive ourselves and those around us, how we feel, the insights we have, the decisions we make, and the actions we take. The Power of Language lays bare how we use different linguistic codes to think about the world - and change our place within it.

Polyglots are measurably better than monoglots at almost everything: smarter, more inventive, more adaptable. They also have less (and later) dementia. I recognise the previous statement may cause some consternation or ‘elevate the supercilia’; however, many studies have demonstrated this to be true. I am no multi-linguist, so I may fall somewhere between the polyglot and monoglot points on the WCS (waning cerebral spectrum).

Let me return to this notion of linguistic ‘power’. I am not talking of using language or lexical utterances, whether in written or spoken form, in a nefarious sense; this is not about winning an argument by intellectualising ones lexis, nor is it to subjugate ones interlocutor or wider audience.

I should like to provide three examples of linguistic impotence:

1. Profanities do not serve, in reality, to empower the human provenance, rather (paradoxically) weaken the provider; after all, what does blasphemy or a swear word actually add, except a longer phrase, a lack of composure, or a demonstration of lexical paucity?

2. Repetitious language merely weakens the message and creates a less efficacious outcome. If my language is repeated, my message is weakened and the outcome is not as efficacious. The language repetitions that I produce become weak and are efficaciously … etc .., (etc .., is not efficacious either, simply weak, and only saves repetition). I think my point is now made!

3. ‘Weak’ words (see later in the list of quiet power moves), such as absolutely, basically, just, kind of, thing, totally, really, very, or virtually; these are LITERALLY COMPLETELY OVER-USED TOO MUCH.

I should also like to draw the reader’s attention to superfluous utterances or lines that detract from the point intended or precision required for the message.

These could be pleonasms, such as: Can I reduce it down?; I can see with my own eyes; burning fire … ; frozen ice … ; or receive a free gift.

Tautologies are equally prevalent: it’s déjà vu all over again (however, this could be possible); it will rain or it will not rain; I, personally …; PIN number; or they spoke in turn, one after the other.

Polyptotons also feature (although I would suggest that these serve to render the sentence more stylistically interesting: Who will watch the watchman?; “With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder” [Richard II – Shakespeare]; or “Not as a call to battle, though embattled we are” [John F. Kennedy]

To ensure ‘fruitful’ communication, I would suggest that it is far more effective to assiduously eschew obfuscatory prolixity!

In conclusion, I found the following 15 quiet power moves ‘to own any room’ (that Dr Carolyn Frost offers) fascinating and extremely helpful, whether in a classroom setting, delivering a talk, or leading a meeting:

• Lower ones voice rather than raise it

• Let silence sit after making an important point

• Start every message with a main headline

• Slow the pace when sharing key insights

• Address potential objections

• Leave intentional pauses between important thoughts

• Make direct eye contact with one person at a time

• Turn date points into memorable stories

• Use the exact words others respond well to

• Remove weak words, such as just or maybe

• Bring up difficult topics that others avoid

• Share what one notices before giving an opinion

• Explain exactly why something matters to the audience

• Break down complex ideas into simple steps

• State the next action needed after every discussion

Fun bite

Phonetic is not
Abbreviation is 12 letters
Thesaurus does not have a synonym
Monosyllabic has 5 syllables 
Palindrome is not one
Non-hyphenated is hyphenated and hyphenated is non-hyphenated
Awesome has some awe, but indicates something ‘full’ of wonder
Awful is full of awe, but suggests something ‘lacking’ wonder
Terrific and perfect are misused
Syntax. (with full-stop!) … incorrect

Wishing you a happy Christmas

European languages
Albanian: Gëzuar Krishtlindja
Aragonese: Feliz nadal
Armenian: շնորհավոր Սուրբ Ծնունդ
Asturian: Feliz navidá
Azerbaijani: Xoşbəxt milad
Basque: Eguberri on
Belarusian: Нараджэннем Хрыстовым
Bosnian: Srećan Božić
Breton: Nedeleg laouen
Bulgarian: Весела Коледа
Catalan: Bon Nadal
Cornish: Nadelik Lowen
Corsican: Bon Natale è pace è salute
Croatian: Sretan Božić
Czech: Veselé Vánoce
Danish: glædelig jul, god jul
Dutch: Vrolijk kerstfeest
Esperanto: Ĝojan Kristnaskon
Estonian: Häid jõule
Faroese: Gleðilig jól
Finnish: Hyvää joulua
French: Joyeux Noël
Frisian (West): Noflike krystdagen
Galician: Bo Nadal
Georgian: შობას გილოცავთ
German: Frohe Weihnachten
Greek: Καλά Χριστούγεννα
Greenlandic: Juullimi pilluarit
Hungarian: Boldog karácsonyt
Icelandic: Gleðileg jól
Irish: Nollaig Shona
Italian: Buon Natale
Latin: Felix dies Nativitatis
Latvian: Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus
Lithuanian: Linksmų Kalėdų
Luxembourgish: Schéine Chrëschtdag
Macedonian: Навистина се роди
Maltese: il-Milied it-Tajjeb
Moksha: Роштува мархта
Norman: Un bouan Noué
Norwegian: god jul
Occitan: Bon Nadal
Polish: Wesołych Świąt
Portuguese: Feliz Natal
Romanian: Crăciun fericit
Russian: Счастливого Рождестваа
Sami (Lule): Buorre javla
Sami (Northern): Buorit juovllat
Sami (Southern): Buerie jåvle
Sardinian: Bona Pasca de Nadale
Scottish Gaelic: Nollaig Chridheil
Serbian: Срећан Божић
Silesian: Radosnych Godōw
Slovak: Veselé Vianoce
Slovene: Vesel božič
Sorbian (Lower): Wjasołe gódy
Sorbian (Upper): Wjesołe hody
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Swedish: God jul
Turkish: Mutlu Noeller
Ukrainian: Різдвом Христовим
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen
Yiddish: אַ פֿריילעכן ניטל‎

Asian languages
Arabic: عِيد مِيلَاد مَجِيد‎
Armenian: շնորհավոր Սուրբ Ծնունդ
Azerbaijani: xoşbəxt milad
Burmese: Hnit thit ku mingalar pa
Cebuano: Malipayong pasko
Chinese (Mandarin): 聖誕快樂, 圣诞快乐
Georgian: შობას გილოცავთ
Hebrew: חג מולד שמח‎
Hindi: शुभ बड़ा दिन
Indonesian: selamat hari Natal
Japanese: メリークリスマス
Javanese: Sugeng Natal
Jingpho: Ngwi pyaw ai X’mas rai u ga
Karo Batak: Selamat wari Natal
Kazakh: рождество құтты болсын
Khmer: រីករាយថ្ងៃបុណ្យណូអែល
Korean: 즐거운 성탄절
Kyrgyz: Жаратканнын туысымен
Lao: ສຸກສັນວັນຄຣິດສມາດ
Malay: Selamat hari Natal
Mongolian: Зул сарын мэнд хүргэе
Persian: میلاد مسیح مبارک باد‎
Sinhalese: සුභ නත්තලක්
Sundanese: Wilujeng Natal
Tagalog: Maligayang pasko
Tajik: Мавлуди Исо муборак
Tamil: கிறிஸ்துமஸ் நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்
Telugu: మెర్రీ క్రిస్మస్
Thai: สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส
Turkish: Mutlu Noeller
Urdu: کرسمس مبارک‎
Uzbek: Rojdestvo muborak
Vietnamese: Chúc mừng Giáng sinh

African languages
Afrikaans: Geseënde kersfees
Akan: Afishapa
Amharic: መልካም ገና
Chichewa: khrisimasi yabwino
Ewe: Blunya na wo
Swahili: Heri ya Krismasi
Zulu: uKhisimusi oMuhle

American languages
Alutiiq: Nunaniqsaakici Aʀusistuami
Aymara: Sooma nawira-ra
Cherokee: ᎤᏬᏢᏗ ᏓᏂᏍᏓᏲᎯᎲ
Haitian Creole: Jwaye Nowèl
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Lushootseed: Haʔɬ pədx̌aʔx̌aʔ
Navajo: Yáʼátʼééh Késhmish
Papiamentu: Bon Pascu
Yup’ik: Alussistuaqegtaarmek piamken

A language of Oceania
Samoan: Manuia le Kerisimasi