Considering the power of language

Language used inappropriately, and inaccurately, can completely derail projects and ideas.

However, even if language is used correctly and as intended but interpreted incorrectly, similar damage can be done.

The danger of words and their misinterpretation was discussed by a speaker at a Melbourne conference about walking some four years ago.

He was expanding on the idea of making communities walkable arguing that the first and most significant hurdle to be overcome was that of language and so that perception and interpretation of what was actually meant.

An understanding of what is a walkable community is not is not what is sought here, rather we need to have a sense of what we are saying and what it really means.
Superstition and our cultural upbringing can distort a word’s intended meaning to such an extent that friendships wither, business relationships dissolve, the world’s religions debate right and wrong and countries go to war – all over a misplaced, or misinterpreted, word.
A word is a word and its meaning, or meanings, expands of shrinks as we knowingly, or unknowingly, add religious or cultural implications, or technological emphases.
Interestingly it was Lewis Carroll (above right) writing in Alice in Wonderland – Through the looking glass who explored the meaning of words when one of the characters said: "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less."
That was in the 19th Century, but just recently somewhat aggravated discussions were happening in Malaysia over the use of the word “Allah”.
As that conversation collapses into violence we should remember what American poet, Mary Angelou said – “Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning”.
Thinking about what Humpty Dumpty said, the views of Mary Angelou and what is happening in Malaysia, we need to respect a word’s independence, the fact the no one actually owns it and, in fact, it is only us who give it meaning.
My advice, use the appropriate language and avoid embellishing it with cultural implications.