Regular readers of this blog post will not be unduly surprised at our admission to being scrupulously selective and preternaturally sensitive in our choice of words. Words are the dynamic tools creative of the visual transmission of thought and need to be precisely expressive of the writer’s specific intention and thus attain the ineffable standard of meaningful communication. In most cases, there are available words that are singularly expressive of the writer’s specific intention.
In our aspiration for precise transmission of thought, (with appropriate apologies to Mr. Thesaurus) we are agnostic concerning the facile use of “synonyms.” Words are written expressions of specific thought, emotion, or aesthetics that seldom are equivalent in context. “Torrid,” is not the same as “hot,” the former may be useful in the context of “passionate,” as in the case of a sexy flamingo dancer, and the latter is best used as a description of intemperate meteorology. The word “damp,” is not the same as “wet;” the same may be illustratively said of “stupid” and “ignorant,” “dressy” and “flamboyant,” “erroneous,” and “mistaken,” and far too many such examples to cite pragmatically
In addition, a measure of contextual injustice has eternally existed in the failure to appropriately value certain seemingly pallid or “vanilla” words, notwithstanding the actual impact of their expressive utility. Some illustrations of such casually used, underrated words, are: “like, “decent,” and “nice.” Such words, ubiquitously employed, as if virtually meaningless are in empirical reality, significantly important to the dynamics of a successful, interactive human society. We would deservedly bestow a generous measure of long-overdue kudos to these undervalued, pallid words, too often used casually or, on occasion, as a rude and arrogant dismissive, such as,” That’s nice!”
[“LIKE”]: The word “like,” is casually used to convey a positive, reactive emotion toward another person, located halfway on a continuum of responses ranging from disinterest to passionate love. The noun, easy to declare, and not particularly impactful or revelatory, nevertheless, is fundamentally important to the universal maintenance of human relationships. Far from constituting a perceived bland or lukewarm feeling, the word, in its ubiquitous and facile utility is, in fact, the verbal epoxy that sustains personal relationships and even makes international history.
It has been our observation that although the passionate feelings of excited love of a newly married couple, due to the long, practical experience of living together, temporally run their inevitable course, the married couple, will predictably remain together if they continue to “like” each other. “Like,” builds and sustains friendships and commercial relationships; and determines nuanced choices, from menu selections, or musical programs to lifestyle choices and dedicated interests. It is the subjective epoxy that binds people together and sustains neighborly and social relationships.
[“Decent”] The word, “decent,” used casually, is in effect, a judgmental term of consequential significance. At times, used as a mild compliment, as in, “It was a decent showing, or meal, or an acceptable number, the word, in its intrinsic essence, has foundational importance. Its application, denotes judgmental approval, signifying such virtues as, honorable, moral, trustworthy, having acceptable rectitude, empathic, fair, humanistic, equitable, generous, and compassionate. As an illustration of the application of the applicable utility of “decent,” we would take the liberty to employ that word as a description of the positive attributes of President Joseph Biden, as contrasted with the empirically, revealed persona of Donald J. Trump. “ Decency” is the primal and fundamental trait, societally expected of every acceptable human being and is of existential importance to the functioning of society.
[“Nice”] The adjective, “nice,” despite its casual, often thoughtless, employment, may effectively be the most underrated descriptive adjective in the American-English lexicon. It is inarguable that human interaction is an existential element in the functioning of society, and that the adjective, “nice” does service as is its catalytic motivation. Unpleasantness as a personal characteristic is as unwelcome as stale, hard-crusted bread. It might be analogously said that the apt description of “nice,”, constitutes the floral nectar, inviting societal bumblebees to positive interaction. Acting and speaking, in a perceived “nice” manner, dynamically results in desirably close, and at times, intimate relationships and, ultimately, a mutually satisfactory interactive societal life. The dismissive phrase “That’s nice.” is a perverse and irreverent use of the fundamental significance of the word.
In the early portion of this writing, we stressed the need for sensitivity in the selection of words, viz., best suited to transmit the idea and context intended by the writer or speaker. Additionally, we have recommended a reconsideration of certain words, conventionally deemed mundane and lacking in consequence, which, on sufficient contemplation are recognized as fundamentally meaningful.
*[ N.B. Wm. Shakespeare, ROMEO and JULIET,(var.)“What’s in a name?”]
-p.
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