Words I Like, Words I Dislike

Within the space of one day the word “Brexit” became well-known to an anxious world – a word denoting unexpected new directions, signalling a coming sea change in the way nations relate to one another. Only six letters but what power they wield!

Writers and poets, of course, have known the power of words for a very long time. They know which words will be liked, which will be disliked, which will evoke certain feelings or elicit desired emotions and reactions.

Like most people I like words related to love, life, nature. For example, the word “monsoon” denotes the end of the hot, dry season and the rejuvenation of life and carries the scent of good things to come. “Childhood” is another favourite word signifying innocence and continuance.

Technology contributes many words to everyday language. Take “multitasking” for example. It came from the world of software. The programme. running inside a computer was originally capable of performing only one task at a time. Then in the late 1970s came multitasking operating systems which created the appearance of a computer working many tasks simultaneously. However today it is people - not computers - that multitask, juggling several things at once.

I dislike “multitasking” because I find it dehumanizing – it is a computer's job.  I just cannot imagine Beethoven multitasking through his creations. Or Jibananda Das. Creating something of lasting value requires undivided attention and deep thought. Perhaps I am hopelessly old-fashioned, but I just cannot believe such concentration is possible when one is multitasking.

A related word that intrigues me is “compartmentalizing.” Bill Clinton was a master of this, being able to mentally shut out the crisis du jour (for example, one Monica Lewinsky) to concentrate on the really important things.

Other words and phrases have gained popularity from the corporate world. Our businesses have a “vision” and a “mission”, our co-workers constitute a “tiger team”, our work is nothing but “best practices”, and our final product will be a “game-changer.” Part of the reason these “sound bites” became popular is because they encapsulate a notion within a few letters which fit nicely within a Powerpoint slide's bullet.

I cringe when I see “revert”. When someone says “I will revert to you” I know they never will.

I had to grow older before understanding nuances of certain loaded words. For example, our Class Eight teacher Brother Lorenzo informed us one day that “redundant” was a sad word. We were mystified. Today we know why.

Words can be used to say the opposite of their literal meaning. When Shakespeare's Marc Antony says “For Brutus is an honourable man” we know Brutus is anything but. Today, “yeah, right!” usually means no.

In advertising, the use of carefully selected words helps create attraction for consumers. A “cosy” home for sale really means it is small. A movie that is a “best-kept secret” is probably lousy. A fat novel billed as “favourite of critics” is likely to be boring. I see many English words (pure, feelings) being used in Bangla advertisements. Is it because of an appeal to the younger generation, or do English words somehow make the advertiser's claim kosher?

Languages live busy lives, changing and adapting to the needs of people. As the world undergoes big changes I am sure I will see more new words to like, and a few to dislike.

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