What's In A Word? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

What's In A Word?

Words generally come one of three ways: misused, overused or perfectly used.

141
What's In A Word?
Sophia Winter

When I give someone my word, I mean it.

I generally assume others will do the same but as we quickly learn in life, just because we are willing to do something for someone else does not mean that they are willing to do it for us; which leads me to the issue of making assumptions.

We inherently make assumptions based on what others say to us because as humans we have two main forms of communication: speech and action. With that being said, I found out fairly early in this game that words can't make up for actions, only actions truly make up for actions.

The problem with words (though there are many, such as how to properly pronounce the words caramel or pecan and the bizarre concept that some words are spelled the same but have totally different meanings, a.k.a homographs) is that they're either misused, overused or perfectly used, kind of like the three bowls of porridge that Goldilocks taste tested that one time.

And just like the porridge in Goldilocks, sometimes what lies behind these weighted and unweighted words is a total bear...

The misused words miss the mark and essentially go cold/have no effect, the overused words come in too hot and the perfectly used words are the ones that feel just right.

I've never been one to like ambiguity or gray area, I like black and white. I like knowing where I stand and I like honesty and integrity. I like perfectly used words. In fact, gray area in conversation makes me incredibly uncomfortable because being able to make sense of abstract concepts is a foundational element of who I am, down to my bones; which just so happen to be white, not gray, as are yours! Which is why I am eternally perplexed as to why some individuals continue to live in the gray area.

I often wonder if my distaste for the gray area comes out of my own prior habits to always say "I'm fine" when asked what's bothering me. If someone knows you well enough to ask what's bothering you because something in your demeanor denotes to them that you're not okay, then I would venture to say that more times than not, you can feel safe by offering them an honest, black and white answer.

If we use the words "I'm fine" then they should mean exactly that. However, the opposite has become true in our society and if I were to play devil's advocate to the previous point that I just made, then I would say that a complete stranger could infer that you are not actually "fine" when you reply "I'm fine."

This is because the phrase "I'm fine" has become synonymous with "I'm really not okay but I don't feel like creating a disturbance so as far as you're concerned, yes; I'm fine."

What about adjectives that have lost their power too? When someone uses the word "awesome," I hope with every fiber of my being that they mean it. That would mean that whatever it is they are experiencing or looking at is truly "awe-inspiring." When someone next to you at work uses the word "starving" before a lunch break to buy a $15.00 salad and a Kombucha, they're probably not actually starving but again, as a society, this powerful word now simply means "hm, I'm kinda hungry, I ate breakfast two hours ago but it was just a granola bar so now I consider myself starving."

Maybe you're wondering what the actual definitions of these words are. Well, according to Merriam-Webster to be "starving" means to "suffer or perish from deprivation." The dictionary also says that when something is "awesome" it means that it is "inspiring awe" and that we could also use words like "terrific" or "fantastic" instead. I find this to be incredibly exciting that there are bigger, more weighted words to describe bigger feelings and bigger moments.

As I've mentioned, words can be a bear to unpack, decode and make sense of. Especially when misused or not meant properly. Call it an inflation of meaning, or whatever you'd like but I am going to call it "misleading" because that's how I feel. If you ask me how I'm doing and I say "awesome" and you say "me too," you better know that I am going to be completely thrilled for you because feeling awe-inspired is totally awesome. Maybe if everyone knew what true awesomeness felt like, sunsets and breathtaking views would be awesome and your favorite bag of chips would no longer be awe-inspiring but rather "delicious" or "enjoyable."

So, what's in a word? A bunch of letters with a whole lot of meaning.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Vivien Leigh
Revelist

I've lived a whole 21 years with an RBF (Resting Bitch Face), so naturally, I go through most of these struggles on a daily basis.

And before you ask, yes I'm fine. No, I'm not mad. This is just my face, so take it or leave it! To those of you who have been #blessed with an RBF, you'll probably relate to these more than you'd like to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Iconic Duos: Timeless Legends

From Luke and Leia to Beyonce's twins...

774524
Luke and Leia from Star Wars, a iconic duo
Lucasfilm

“Name a more iconic duo... I'll wait." OK, well, if you insist. In no particular order, here's a list of 100 iconic duos that seem to be timeless.

SEE MORE: This Is The ICONIC Disney Sidekick You Are To Your BFF, According To Your Zodiac Sign

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

A Candid Letter to My Best Friends Ex

Because this is the real form of torture you deserve.

349
middle finger
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

What's up Asshat,

I've composed a list of things that I wish upon you, and they're harsh and cruel. These things are things that I wouldn't wish upon my worst of enemies, not even that Starbuck's barista who always screws up my order, not even him. You fall into a whole other category of hate. You surpass Starbucks barista. Congratulations, I'm actually a pretty nice person, making you worthy of every single bit of torture I wish upon you. What are these things I wish upon you you might ask?

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

College Life: As Told By Bob's Burgers

If there's anyone who understand the struggles of college, it's the Belcher family

1024
Bob's Burgers

College is a time of gaining independence, exploring new things, and copious amounts of Netflix. If you're like me, you often find yourself laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of the situations you find yourself in. Here are ten times Bob's Burgers accurately captured college life.

1. What you're pretty sure your upstairs neighbors do at 3am every morning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Why Theater Kids Are the Greatest People Ever

Supportive and spontaneous human beings are the best.

772
Theater Kids

Throughout school, the theater department has always been my go-to place with go-to people when I need advice, a dance party, or just someone to listen to me vent.

You never know what's going to happen when you're dealing with theatre or what kind of characters you'll encounter. We have too much fun doing anything! One time in my senior year acting class, we spent an entire class period watching Bob's Burgers, and it was the greatest class period ever.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments