The value of a $2 word
The right word at the right time is a beautiful thing. There’s just something about a person who can make a point eloquently and efficiently that makes me want to respect them. Look at any joint press conference between George W. Bush and Tony Blair, and you’ll see what I mean. I think a good vocab can be a killer weapon in the workplace, so when I hear a good word I write it down. My plan is to take those words and post them on this blog. I’ll give a little context and explain why they work. And of course I’ll try to keep it in balance. After all, nobody likes a word-snob.
Welcome! If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed or subscribe via email. Thanks for visiting!
Subscriber in a reader
September 19th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
I definitely concur with your statement on the value of a good vocabulary however, I would caution that context is just as important as the words you use. Bush often spoke to a much wider audience than his opponents, why? His audience, whether at a gathering or on TV relates better to the vocab he uses.
I will look forward to your communicative gems but, I had to make a few remarks on the environment they should be used in
September 19th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
I agree that there is a time and a place for everything. Sometimes hokey works, and sometimes elegance is necessary. So which is right for our political leaders? I guess that is a matter of opinion.
September 19th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
I would say there are places it would be better for the President to speak simply and frankly and other times/locales where he/she should speak with eloquence. Sometimes many of our leaders confuse these two situations.
September 19th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
For instance, our President spoke in a simple and direct manner on 9/11 that conveyed the raw feeling of a nation. It was neither eloquent in a frilly manner nor lengthy like many of the statements put out that day but it captivated a nation and gave us all hope in a way no other politician or leader throughout the world could.