This week, I have read essays related to language construction and its influence. I learned many methods which affect certain way. This is useful to know in order to enhance my critical reading and writing skill. I read ten essays; the subjects vary from how choice of font may affect readers feeling to how knowing audience helps to choose and shape information. But one of the most informative essays to me is “The Case for Short Words” by Richard Lederer. The author explains how short words are powerful comparing to long words. This article changed my idea toward English writing upside down!
How many of you tried to impress audience by using big words or bureaucratese to show your intelligence? I think many of you tried such method to decorate your idea; I was not the exception. When comes to the writing, I tend to search more difficult or complicated words as possible, rather than simple short words, to make it look gorgeous. But Lederer points out that how use of short words effect audience positively in his essay. He states, “Big words can make the way dark for those who read what you write and hear what you say. Small words cast their clear light on big things…Big words at times seem strange to the eye and the car and the mind and the heart. Small words are the ones we seem to have known from the time we were born, like the hearth fire that warms the home” (Lederer par. 2). This idea clicked my brain to remind that how I used to use short words to explain something new to that person; I often takes a while to understand the concept explained by big words. In addition, I tend to use simple words when I communicate with others. I may confused my audience through use of big words; because my motivation of using big words was, making my essay looks more complicated, rather than telling my thought directly, in order to show my skill of expression to the audience; I distorted some of my idea slightly different from my original thought by using big words.
Lederer also acknowledges us how short words were used in the work of one of the most famous writers in the history as following, “Nobody used the short word more skillfully than William Shakespeare” (par. 8). When I read this fact, I was very surprised that Shakespeare accomplished his famous works without much big words. This fact encourages me to use powerful simple words.
After reading Lederer’s essay, I became aware of using big words does not equal to better writing; I felt extremely relieved since I became released by pressure of using big words; now I can enjoy being me by writing with simple words which is more likely my natural reflection in writing, since I do not talk or express myself as politician. Of course there are cases big words are necessary for essay when those add understanding, however, now I have an idea that use of the language has to be clear to the audience if I want to correctly acknowledge or inform my audience, so I will focus on analyzing the fact that if my word choice deliver my idea clearly rather than focusing on decorating my essay. I saws short words in new light; now, I am not afraid to use such basic words.
Work Cited
Lederer, Richard. “The case for Short Words” Exploring Language. Ed. Gary Goshgarian. New York: Longman, 2008. 122-24. Print.
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I'm in a Shakespeare class now. You hit on the point of 'Shakes' (that's the name I use for him) ability to produce written plays and sonnets with eloquence and meaning that has lasted a few hundred years and he did it with mostly small words - common words. That's because, when all is said and done, he was common, too, just like you and me. There's a place for big words and a time to use big words instead of small words, but it isn't when speaking in common terms, in a common setting, with those you have things in common. Our schooling is not to be confused with some "high institution" where we have to be afraid to be ourselves and step outside of our comfort zone when writing a paper. Our school is what is common to us all and probably the one place that YOU SHOULD feel the most comfortable being yourself. This is where the use of common words is probably the most appropriate. Don't be afraid to write in a style that is your own and definitely make it your own. If that style is "common", then so be it, as long as it is common to you. That's what your writing should sound like - YOU.
ReplyDelete"Small words cast their clear light on big things…Big words at times seem strange to the eye and the car and the mind and the heart. Small words are the ones we seem to have known from the time we were born." So flippin' true!
Keep at it and your work will become better as it becomes easier for you. Trust me, it will become easier.
Wow, I am taking Shakespeare class this semester as well. I had never read Shakespeare before this semester, so I had imagination of Shakespeare as use of snobbish words or big words because he was famous as master of theater writer. So I was brainwashed with the idea that big words are better. Now I will focus on clearness rather than making it complicated. Thank you for the valuable advice. I am learning something new day by day, which makes me feel good.
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