In society we are all influenced by many different things that take place in our lives. Those influences could include what people hear, what they see, and what they read. All of those influences are encompassed by one thing, words. Our words can have a great effect on a person and influence that person in some way. The outcome of something could be changed because of what those words were. According to John Keating in Dead Poets’ Society, “words and ideas can change the world” (Peter Weir Touchstone Pictures 1989). In my life, words have had a great influence on me and have changed my life for the better. Words that have had the greatest influences on me are the words spoken in General Conference by the General Authorities. The ideas and words
Another vice that causes writings to be lacking in effect is insincerity on the part of the writer. When a writer performs for money or ego, the motivation does not help regain "the loss of [the] dignity and self-respect" that the African people suffered. Writers motivated by money tend to reflect the views of their parishioners. In this case the writer's concerns are on his pay, not on the social impact of the topic. If the writer is writing for fame, he will be writing in a pedantic manner, keeping in mind only his success, rather that the depth of the piece. Such writers do not put their thoughts into "human terms" so that damage done to the African
Words have the power to motivate no matter their size, for instance, the sermon the minister preaches motivates the ones who initially want to hear. Angelou claims, “Even the minister preached on graduation the Sunday before. His subject was, ‘Let your light so shine that men will see your good works and praise your father’”. Although, the reader does not hear the sermon, the title, “Let your light so shine that men will see your good works and praise your father”, allows the reader to visualize and even take the words to heart. As mentioned previously, that words motivate, they also demotivate, aditionally, “The man's dead words fell like bricks around the auditorium and too many settled in my belly. Constrained by hard learned manners I couldn’t look behind me, but to my left and right the proud graduating class of 1940 had dropped their heads”. The words dead, bricks, settled, belly constrained, behind, and dropped, although not necessarily horrible words alone, but in the right context they will leave a grown man in his own desolation. With the right words, civilization will thrive or plummet to the depths of the
Words have the power to Provoke action by when people who take a stand for others and persuade them to take action for what they want. In I Have a Dream Martin Luther King Jr. states “...No,no,no,we are not satisfied ,and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like a waters of righteousness, like a mighty stream.” (Pg 263) Martin Luther King Jr during his “I Have a dream” speech he tells everyone that they will not stop fighting until they get what they want. Cesar Chavez a protester against table grapes states his demands, during his speech called Lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. he states “ Please, boycott table grapes. For your safety, for the workers and for the children, we must act together.” (Pg 328) Both Martin Luther King Jr. state that they will fight for what they want and will not stop til they get what they want for the good of the people. Words can provoke action because hey persuade listeners that their cause is worth supporting.
When you develop messages, what factors should you consider as you choose your words? Which considerations do you think are most important? Why?
The power of words is immeasurable. Words help people to voice their opinions and express their thoughts and feelings. Our everyday lives are shaped by communication and in general language. A persons language can often influence success and happiness. America is viewed as a melting pot for numerous different people and their respective languages. Language is so vital in our society that a person of diverse ethnic background can face many tribulations throughout their everyday life.
For example, Primo Levi describes how "We say “hunger,” we say “tiredness,” “fear,” “pain,” we say “winter” and they are different things. They are free words, created and used by free men who lived in comfort and suffering in their homes" (Document C). Many people find some words as exciting and joyous even though they can mean the exact opposite to someone else. Because of Levi’s experience, ordinary kind words become cruel and violent and completely change the meaning. Levi
Words are all around us. Words define the way we describe the way we articulate, one such example being this very paper, the way we interact with others, and most importantly, the way we feel or think. Adjectives: the words that give our world emotional meaning beyond the literal definition; that is connotation. Connotation is most evident in words to which we associate our most extreme emotions. Whether it is witnessing the greatest of fireworks, an elaborate collection of lights and sounds, or seeing truckfuls of babies being dumped into a blistering hot fire, the word we would use to describe these two events, fire, will forever be emotionally seen differently by whomever witnesses it. A word can develop in meaning, once meaning one thing to then mean something completely different. In fact, In Elie Wiesel’s “Night”, Elie’s definition of the word ‘fire’ changes from that of a danger to one’s self to that of destruction and revenge.
Another way that language can influence people to do good things is in a poem by Emily Dickinson: “Hope” “Hope is the thing with feathers, That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops-at all” In that stanza of her poem she is saying that hope is always in your soul and sings a tune of happiness and never stops singing that tune. In another stanza she says “I’ve heard it in the chillest land, And on the strangest sea, Yet-never- in Extremity, It asked a crumb of me.” In the stanza she discussed that she has always had hope and it never left her wherever she went. She also states that even in the hardest places and times, she still had hope, but it never asked anything of her. Another example of uplifting language can be found from Animal Farm is Boxer, the horse’s personal motto “I will work harder.” This quote is inspiring because when all the other animals are done working Boxer is still working and doesn’t complain. After the windmill fell and they were rebuilding it, Boxer worked harder than all the other animals. He got up an hour earlier to work and stays an hour later than all the others working to rebuild the windmill.
There is something about a quote that is quite strange and perplexing. It’s immediate power to inspire, encourage, and motivate is unparalleled with anything else. The fact that a few, simple words possess so much power, and such a great influence really shows how great of an impact we have with our use of words.
Words can have a huge impact on people if they learn to use them correctly. In A Word for Everything written by Helen Keller she describes how words brought her joy to her and made her more eager to learn. Keller grew up blind, so the words affected her in a positive way. In the essay Homemade Education by Malcolm X, he talks about how words had a positive impact on his writing and speaking. The essay Coming to Language by Jimmy Santiago tells us how words gave him courage and confidence he needed to overcome his situation.
Powerful words can have powerful effects upon readers and listeners. Words can have a denotative- and a connotative definition;
What I think Berg means is that, when words are used, they play an important role in how we feel. What she means is that, when someone says something that makes us feel good, we take it in a way that they like us and that makes us feel good about ourselves. For example, when someone tells you that your shoes look good, you think that they like your shoes, so you keep wearing them. They can also be destructive. Like someone can say your shoes look ugly, and you take it in a way of that they don't like your shoes, so you don't wear them anymore as a result.
Words constantly manipulate emotions. They weave a tapestry of complex and conflicting feelings throughout the course of daily conversation. There are many contributing factors to the power of words including, but not limited to, body language, tone of voice, and eye contact. In some cases, the effect of words can be disheartening, as evidenced in “Graduation Day.” When Angelou describes Donleavy’s speech in the story, she illustrates the immediate effects his words have on the African-American graduates. “The proud graduating class of
In “Anthem,” the author, Ayn Rand, uses words just for the sake of writing. For example, “Know what you want in life and go after it. I worship individuals for their
If I say that I am currently employed with a major petroleum distribution center, you may think that I am a highly qualified person making limitless amounts of money. However, I am using the power of language to merely say that I work at a gas station making minimum wage. Great historical figures throughout history have used the power of language, the ability to use words to their advantage, to inspire people to unite under one common cause and to change the world.