Do You Say What You Think?

Or do you think what you say? And does it matter?

There is a lot in the news these days about who said what and how they said it. It is a time when we really need to pay attention  to what we say AND what we think. 

I often wonder if the people in the media, or elsewhere even, really think about what they say. I mean, when it seems ridiculous, when it doesn't really make sense, or when it is quite outrageous I have to wonder if they really believe what they are saying. Or do they even listen to themselves at all?

I've always been a lover of words. I like learning where they came from and what they mean. I was an English major in undergraduate school and have been a writer most of my adult life. So words are especially important to me. And I know that not everyone cares that much about our language. But language is a powerful thing.

Did you know there are 7000 languages around the world? 7000! And they don't all work the same way. It is often  difficult, if not impossible, to translate word for word. Words that are common in our language don't exist in other languages. Do you wonder how that is possible?

Well, it is because words are ideas, concepts. And if that concept doesn't exist in another language they don't have a word for it. Or something we have only one word for would, in another language, have several words for it - like snow. Eskimos have a variety of words for snow because snow is so much more important in their lives.

So maybe we should be more aware of exactly what we do think or believe and then choose more exact words to convey that. And let's also be aware that what words we use are shaping what we think. Listen to what others say and determine if they really think and believe what they say or are they just being careless with the language.

What do you think?

If you are really interested in this subject you might enjoy the TED talk below: