A Meditation on Words

by Emily Nelson

What is the meaning of words? They twist, turn, wind, burn, melt down then amalgamate to form timeless works of fiction, heart wrenchingly powerful speeches and the basis of the world around us. We all know Martin Luther King Jr’s “I have a dream” and may even be able to summon the memory of his voice projecting these famous words with as much gusto and raw determination as you’ve ever heard. Yet, it can often feel as though words have no meaning at all. The universal feeling of reading a textbook page so many times that you should become a world expert in the topic, without actually taking any of the information in, becomes especially common during exam periods. So, do words always carry the meaning which they should be endowed with?

There appears to exist an abundance of powerpoints, particularly in morning assemblies, which seek to convey vague or abstract notions. For example, the concept of ‘friendship’. One solution adopted by powerpoint makers everywhere is to list numerous words which relate to the general theme. Taking the aforementioned example, we can extrapolate ‘kindness’, ‘respect’, or ‘trust’. Of course, these features are all important, but is shoving the words onto a powerpoint slide really going to stop a gaggle of year sevens from inciting friendship drama? I would argue that no, it is not. Rather, when attempting to influence internal decisions about topics such as self-confidence, relationships and behaviour, people need to feel inspiration. Drastic changes in behaviour can most certainly be achieved through words, as previously mentioned in Martin Luther King Jr’s most famous speech. However, we need to stop blindly flinging around ‘snowflake’ terminology without a second thought, as it feels empty and without meaning.

Conversely, there are a myriad of ways in which words can not only convey heartfelt meaning, but can resonate with one’s soul. It could be argued that song lyrics are one of the most powerful forms of communication. Masterful lyricists pour their hearts out writing songs about love, loss and everything in between. Then, as if by some divine miracle, leimen listen to these deep dives into the depths of the human experience and the words resonate with them. Granted, not everyone likes music; some people never listen to it. However, this worldwide phenomenon of communicating through song can be seen everywhere from indiginous tribes to global pop sensations. One of the first steps in planning a momentous event - in my mind - is to create a playlist. Whether it be for a wedding or a funeral, carefully selecting the songs which represent the people involved is an important task. In 2018, Spotify reported that the most popular wedding song was ‘Thinking Out Loud’ by Ed Sheeran. Reading the lyrics of the song, it soon becomes apparent why it is often chosen for weddings. It is easy to imagine a bride and groom tearing up whilst listening to this song on their big day. This shows that song lyrics can connect to each of our individual experiences, giving the words greater meaning.

Not to mention, the entire point of language, which is to allow people to communicate freely with each other. The English language itself came to fruition out of multiple cultures, but mainly from the Germanic tribes, such as the Angles, Saxons and Jutes, which is why we have such a patchwork quilt of irregular spellings that rightly baffle non-english speakers. However, there are a number of words in other languages which do not directly translate into english. For example, the Indonesian ‘jaysus’, meaning a joke told so poorly and so unfunny that one cannot help but laugh. Or the French ‘sonder’, describing the feeling of realisation that everyone, including strangers, has a life as complex as one’s own. The feeling of discovery and wonder at learning these words, so packed with meaning that it takes a sentence to just explain one, is incredibly satisfying. Of course, as an english student, I am prone to getting overly excited about a Good Word. Although, one must admit that words like ‘sonder’ evoke feelings of recognition and being understood; they are a source of comfort that others have experienced the exact same inexplicable feelings as oneself. Moreover, words can be a delectable treat when they represent deep emotions such as love and loss, as well as these previously unknown feelings; all of which dig deep into the human psyche to draw out the beating heart of the human experience. To quote Virginia Woolf, ‘Language is wine upon the lips’, showing us that expression is beautiful, and we should endeavor to find enjoyment in writing and speaking the full extent of the english language. 

If you take anything away from these structured ramblings, I should hope that it is to go listen to songs that bring out these emotions and feelings of comfort, or go devour a book that makes you excited to explore the undiscovered expressions which await. 

Sources:

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/most-popular-wedding-songs_n_5afb1adce4b044dfffb6635b?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIV6PBzvFmBXSeCYEeHXVXhdntIgYS0eYJFZifQB6amTKCMDyuSvYqPF2he20zELoP-V-14VvKRvzs4IB18cwI1ebv2OXWgrHQnmXFge97nqW7rqoPRLKa4RFLHjsYFbE7GrTtYkUW2FaSu_f7_sPZF8TTJYt1S2gLICmWMGLRkM