On the power of words

From prayers to slang, from the divine to the mundane, words convey an endless spectrum of thoughts and emotions. Words can turn into reality. When we express our thoughts, we do it by using words and gestures. Does the language we speak dictate how we see the world?

An acquaintance of mine I have recently exchanged views with categorically opposed the idea of languages shaping our thoughts and attitudes, and, by extension, the words we use. ”It’s hubris. No proof of that,” she said. But is it hubris, really? Is there really no proof? I beg to differ. We have all the proof we need. A Hebrew speaker is going to see the world very differently from a native Polish speaker. A bilingual Hebrew-Polish speaker is going to see the world in an even different light.

It’s my understanding that gossip is particularly uncalled for in Judaism. Rightly so. Badmouthing people behind their backs, especially at work, is a big mistake. Vile words we spread about others are going to come back to bite us – eventually. Management changes, people get fired. It’s best to say positive things or nothing at all. If someone finds it fake, if someone is all about authenticity, well – good luck to them and their so-called authenticity.

It’s the same with honor. While honorable people do exist, be weary of people who stress how honorable they are. Psychopaths often want others to be honorable. They use pompous language and expect you to be perfect. But psychopaths don’t care about honor and authenticity. They are going to use these words because it’s expedient for them. It’s a classic ”don’t do as I do, do as I say scenario.” Don’t fall for it, please. Honorable people don’t need to announce to the world every five minutes that they are honorable. It’s self-evident.

Which brings me to praying again. If a woman’s prayer, as some claim, is taken less seriously by God, than it means that the words a woman speaks are taken less seriously by the Creator. Is God the creator of a cosmic glass ceiling, then?

Words can also reshape the identity of vanquished enemies. By banning words, even languages, and imposing the language of the victors upon the enemy, that coercive process contributes to the enemy’s emasculation, thereby removing the threat, and even turning the enemy into an asset.

Using profanity is another example. People of a certain status are awarded more freedom to use profanity with impunity. Women, for example, are more penalized for using bad words.

A word, a sentence, an accent, or even a language, used in a particular context can open doors… or slam them shut permanently. Spies and foreigners can be outed by saying one wrong word. There’s a great word for it: shibboleth.