Reflections on words and language

Title

Creator

Schon, Joseph E.

Language

English

Source

The Cabletow XLIV (10) October 1968

Year

1968

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

Reflections on . . • Words and Language MW Joseph E. Schon Grand Master * Remarks given at. the monthly meeting of the Manila Toastmasters' Club at the YMCA Restaurant on Sept. 19, 1968. It was with misgivings that I ac cepted your kind invitation to speak this evening. Your reputation, for oratorical capability as for oratorical criticism, is such as to make the mightiest cower in terror. So let me just confine my remarks to a few observations of my own which may be of interest to you, and leave the oratory to others more skill ed in the art. To my mind, one of the most pleas ing sensations to be experienced is the effect on the mind of an artificer in words. The art of perfect expres sion of ideas through composition of words, meticulously chosen for exacti tude of meaning, and euphoniously blended for effortless absorption should be the goal of every would-be public speaker. The mind is always more receptive to harmony than to discord. We have all had the experience of listening to the symphony of words composed bv a gifted orator. The impact of his individual words on the sense.-, is no more than the touch of a snowflake, yet, when his composition has been played, the image that remains is as beautiful as a landscape under a blan ket of newly-fallen snow. i'.verv word in a language is des criptive unto itself. But a word can not express an idea. An inept or boring speech is usually the product <>f a muddled mind. No number of words, no matter how beautifully s]token, can .produce a pleasing men tal picture if the idea, the target of expression, is itself vague. Hence the long-winded speaker who relies on verbosity to create the camouflage for his lack of depth of thought, whereas a few appropriately chosen words could have sufficed had a clear idea been there to start with. Has it ever occurred to you how many bruised feelings could have been spared had the thought been formulated before the words? Irre sponsible use of words, usually attri butable to an impulsive speaker, can inflict more unintended harm on the sensitivities of his audience than any amount of calculated effrontery, be cause his audience is off guard and therefore mentally defenseless. The above thoughts are equally ap plicable to the written word. The successful journalist is one able to transcribe the intelligence of his eyes into an accurate verbal image through the medium of the printed word. This may not be as difficult to accomplish as the task of the orator. The journal ist has at hand a visual guide — a ready reference — to keep his words focused on the image he wants to create. In turn, the novelist has a much wider scope in which to make words work for him. His one original idea, the plot, is the only fixed target he contends with, but in developing this plot he may roam far afield in his quest for suitable supporting word images. His chore, I should think, is the easiest of the three. He has time in his favor. He can make endTum to pogo 27 OCTOBER, 1968 tiliis at liyaga ay maikalat ang gininmang aral at prinsipio para sa kabutihan at kagalakan ng katauhan. Dapat na ituring na kabanalan ng lahat ng Mason ang sinumpaan nilang tungkulin na itanim sa isip ng mga karaniwang tao ang mga maka-Diyos na aral ng Masoncria. Isinulat ng isa -a ating magigiting na Bayani na: ' Itinakda ng liistoria na ang Masoneria ay inaging apostol ng pagsulong at ng kalayaan.” At sa gayun ding paniniwala, ang Kap. na Marcelo H. de! Pilar ay iminungkahi na “Sa Pili pinas, ang Masoncria ang siyang karapalda|)at na lider ng kilusan ukol ikatutubos ng ating Inang Bayan. Dapat na magpunyagi sa pagpapalaganap ng pagibig sa kalayaan, pagkakapantaypantay at katarungan. Ang lahat ng mga ito ay kailangang makintal sa ating kaisipan, manalaytay sa ating dugo, tumibok sa ating mga puso at mailarawan sa ating mga batas.” I van din ang matayog na mithiin ng Malalaya’t Tinanggap na Mason. A Order Now Your Past Masters’ Jewels: 10 KT. Gold...............P150.00 Gold Filled.................... 75.00 Every Master Mason, parti cularly Lodge ojjicers, should possess a copy of our Masonic Law Book, if he wants to be Conversant with our laws, rules, and regulations. So order a copy now! Price ......................... 3.50 each 20 copies or more . . 3.00 each Plaridel Masonic Service Supply 1440 San Marcelino St. Manila WORDS AND . . . From page 3 less changes in his composition of words until he has arrived at the com bination that describes the image as clearly as his talents permit. To me, therefore, it would seem that the creation of an effective and expressive image, pleasing and des criptive of the thought or idea, by means of a suitable choice and com position of the spoken word is the more difficult to achieve. For the orator there is no opportunity to re phrase, erase or even to modify his words. They must be in focus at every turn or the clarity of the image would be impaired. It is thus that I can readily appre ciate the functions of this discerning organization. You are constantly im proving the ability of men to express themselves, facilitating the communi cation of thoughts and ideas, and striving always to remove the mental or physical blocks to the achievement of this vital need in our society. We all realize, of course, that per fection in this is impossible to achieve. None of us has ever heard the per fect speaker — nor shall we. But the closer we come to perfection, the more pleasant will become our relationships with others. The more clearly we can communi cate our thoughts to others, the more helpful and effective we will become in our society. A G. O. SABAS Jeweller Maker of Masonic Emblems and Jewelry D. R. ESCOSA Authorized Representative 75 Sibuyan St., Sta. Mesa Heights Quezon City Tel: 615998 OCTOBER, 1968 27

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3, 27

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