The Beauty Of Language

It pains me to see that our lives are so hectic that we've reduced our use of language to a few text messages, e-mails, tweets and words that are short and bland. We work on the computer while talking on the phone with the TV on, running out to the kitchen to stir the spaghetti pot and yell for the kids to wash for dinner. Our lives are so overloaded that we don't even have time to think about what we are saying or how our speech has been reduced to 3 syllables or less per word.

As an artist (or a lover of art) we are moved by the images we see before us. Are we not also moved by a beautiful song, a cherished prayer, a line in a favorite book or a poem written long ago? When did we start thinking of language as a means to an end instead of the beginning of something wonderful?

No matter what your native language, there are words that can be used to convey your idea in a different, richer way. Yes the sky is blue but if the sky is azure, does it not mean something more than plain blue? If you have a conversation with someone, isn't is more meaningful than talking to her?

Why do we dumb ourselves down? Do we think that using larger words shows that we are uppity? And if so, when did that happen?

Language is evocative. It is lush. It is the color palette by which we enrich our daily lives. It would not be too difficult to use a nice juicy word every now and again.You don't even have to learn new words: they are already there in the back of your head. All you have to do is dust them off and use them as often as you can.

So, carpe diem and go out into the world armed with some wonderful words. Your sky will no longer be simply blue, it just might be cerulean blue with a touch of magenta!

"There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it."
Dale Carnegie

Blog Post Give-Away!

In honor of words, I will be giving away a packet of dictionary pages and non-English text sheets for you to use in your artwork. All you have to do is leave a comment about this post and I will randomly choose a winner. I'll contact you and get your address if you are a winner so check your spam folder for "moonlightjourney" at the end of July.

Thanks for reading this post and have a creative day!

~Lynne

http://www.moonlightjourney.com

 

Comments

[jann]

Very interesting post here Lynne
and oh so true. Enjoyed reading it.
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Language is the means of getting an idea from my brain into yours without surgery. ~Mark Amidon
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Our language is funny - a fat chance and slim chance are the same thing. ~J. Gustav White
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Thanks to words, we have been able to rise above the brutes; and thanks to words, we have often sunk to the level of the demons. ~Aldous Huxley

[Robin]

This is soooo true! Unfortunate that words are being reduced to just letters for the sake of speed. Heck, they don't even teach handwriting in most schools anymore...another dying art!

[csdola]

Truer words were never said! I love what you've said and firmly believe that we are becoming a society that is too busy to bother with communicating. How sad. I used to worry about my daughter's generation because of their constant cryptic messages on the computer via instant messaging while they were texting on their phones. NOW, we adults have joined the bandwagon and are joining facebook, twitter and texting just as much as our kids. I know it's all for the sake of keeping up with our friends and family and networking to promote our art but whatever happened to good old fashioned picking up the telephone and calling someone to chat or better yet, going to their house to sit down and visit with them?
It supposed to be progress but sometimes I think we're going backwards!
OK, I'll get off my soapbox now and head back to texting and twittering!
Thanks again for your great blog post.
Cathy

[Sarah]

I often wonder if kids even know how to spell anymore. Do spelling bees still exist or have they evolved into acronym bees?
Enjoyed your thought provoking post.

[Izabella]

oh Lynne!! this is beautiful!! it is even more lovely while reading, hearing my love, my Edward, singing in the background.

thank you beyond words, for this wonderful post my dear~ I know that meaningful spoken words are becoming extinct, but I am thankful for Facebook & other social sites in my life, as it has brought about many wonderful miracles in my life...like meeting my online friends in person is a precious event, so the magic is... trying to find the perfect balance. You are a precious soul!! xo!!

[Lori]

I found this post through Becky's blog. As someone who loves writing, I have an ongoing romance with words! I love their power to influence us in so many ways, power to evoke certain emotions and even images in our minds. They are so individual, bringing different things to different people based on our life experiences, our hopes and our dreams. Thank you for this lovely and meaningful post! ~Lori

[Tumble Fish Studio]

I came over from Becky's too . . . what a talented group you Outsiders are. I have always been so impressed with all of you, but your blog and posts and words here are beautiful and thoughtful and inspiring on their own. (love your and Becky's collage sheets - luscious!)

I have written myself about this very thing (though not so well) - the importance of words to art, but you have taken it a step further in reminding us how important they are to how we live and think about everything. Chosen words can take everything we see and feel and think a bit deeper and richer. Lovely post!

[michele]

Facetime will never be eclipsed by Facebook.

A cellphone is not a grandchild, but what an empty hole exists without some form of her voice falling into my ear, delighting me to my soul, and back again.