A word is the sign of an idea. An idea is something conceived in the mind, resulting in a mental image. Thinking and directing the activities of the body are the chief functions of the brain. We say that this is "mind" or "mentality." In order that we may get the greatest benefit from this mental activity, we must have some way by which we express to ourselves and to others these mental conceptions. For this purpose, we use words.Names for things, whether these be visible or invisible objects, are used by man. These names, which we call nouns, are by far the largest group of words in our language. This list runs into the thousands. We have another group of words which we use to describe the activities of these objects, and another to tell their qualities and to describe them. Still other expressions are used to tell of relationships between words and ideas. These and the other parts of speech are all essential to the use of good language.
The English language has been enriched from other languages, both ancient and modern, as has, perhaps, no other language in the world. Besides the words composing the old Anglo-Saxon speech, we have added root words from the Latin, Greek, and many other tongues. This list of borrowed words and expressions exceeds that of the original language.
Our modern unabridged dictionary contains nearly half a million words and expressions, and is truly a treasure house from which we may draw if we have the key, or mentality, and the determination to enrich the mind with a competent list of words. It is not necessary for us to learn all of this great store of words, but we should have sufficient knowledge of them to give expression adequately to our thoughts. And we should not be satisfied with the minimum, but should determine to master a sufficient vocabulary to give expression to the various shades of thought. Naturally, this list of words and their use will be largely determined by our fund of general information. One cannot properly use the words peculiar to a scientific branch of knowledge unless he himself knows that science. Every-trade and profession will have its own peculiar names and expressions. We cannot hope in this short life to know all things. And we need not learn all the words in the English language, but we should have a sufficient vocabulary to make our thought clear and convincing.
Men have made a study of our language, and have determined the words that are the most commonly used by the average man. This scientific study has revealed the fact that when an elementary student has finished his course, he should have about 4,500 words at his command. A high-school graduate should have at least 7,500, and a college graduate should be acquainted with a list of from 12,500 to 15,00o words. These words should be those which can be spelled and defined and used when occasion requires. Although this is not a great proportion of the soo,000 words in our language, it is beyond the scope used by most people.
If one will check up on himself, he will find that he has in reality three vocabularies: one for reading, one for writing, and one for speaking. Our reading vocabulary is the largest. We read many things the meaning of which is not clear because we have only a hazy knowledge of some of the words. We could not count such words in our speaking and writing vocabularies. The words used in our writing vocabulary are much more carefully chosen than those used in our speaking vocabulary. We choose our words much more exactly and guardedly when we put pen to paper.
Variety of Expression
The spoken word usually contains more repetition of expression than the written, in which it is easier to weed out duplications. In order not to grow monotonous in either writing or speaking, we try to avoid using repeatedly the same words and phrases to express our ideas. Synonyms can often be used and other ways be found of giving variety to expression.
The words used on any occasion should be in keeping with the audience. We do not address children in the same way we would speak or write to those of more advanced age or of more learning, nor do we belittle our audience by addressing men of learning in juvenile terms. The language must be suited to the hearer. It should not be taken for granted, however, that merely because words are lengthy they are thereby indicative of great knowledge.
The best authors and the greatest orators are not necessarily those who use big words, but they are those whose command of the language is such that they can find the right words for the proper place, be it large or small. Abraham Lincoln, whose schooling was very meager, studied language in a very practical manner. It is said that without the aid of a teacher he mastered the grammar of our tongue. And in his reading, he made such keen observation of sentence construction and words used by men of letters that he mastered both the thought and the words. When he read the speeches and writings of others, he tried to recast the wording so as to make it say what the author intended, only in a more terse manner. He was far more than a mere copyist; he was master of his own thought.
Men have read and reread his great speeches to study his logic, his figures of speech, and his terse manner of clothing his thought in words to represent just what he intended to say. His short speech at Gettysburg will perhaps go down in histo-ry as one of the great masterpieces of literature. These three short paragraphs do not contain a word unfamiliar to any eighth-grade student.
Dr. W. Franklin Jones, who gave us one of the most scientifically constructed spelling books, has discovered the one hundred 'spelling demons" of the English language. Strange to say, only two of these have as many as nine letters, and three have but three letters each.
I have carried about for many years a list of my own of ten short, nontechnical words, the longest of which has only ten letters. I am not the originator of the test, but have given it to thousands of people of all walks of life, as well as to students in our schools from the elementary grades to college. And I have yet to find one person who can spell all of the words correctly. Most people can spell but half of them or less. Those of our workers who would like to test their spelling ability on the list, may have some member of the family read the words to them. They appear on page 46.
A few suggestions that may enable one to acquire a good working vocabulary may be in order. These suggestions are not exhaustive, and I lay no claim to copyright.
1. While reading or listening to a speaker, note any word used the meaning of which is not clear to you. When you have access to a good dictionary, look UD the word, noting its spelling, pronunciation, and varied meanings. These items are all important.
2. Before using a word, be sure that the form you use is the proper one. Some words are spelled alike, but are different in meaning; some are pronounced alike, but are spelled differently. A request was made of me years ago to write an account of a series of sermons and studies given by one of our ministers in one of our churches. In making my report, I said that every sermon given seemed to be indited by the Spirit of God. When it came out in print, the editor let the word go through as "indicted," which was just about the opposite of the thought I wished to convey.
3. Go through the dictionary and make a selection of those words which you desire to add to your vocabulary, and then determine that you will master a given number of them each day. One of our German teachers told me that he learned the English language in this manner, learning an average of twenty words a day until he had the language. When you have thus mastered a word, find occasion to use it. When you have used it properly a few times, it is yours.
4. Encourage your friends to offer any suggestion that will help you in your effort to master the language. You may find a few good friends who will dare to do this for you. Many of them will not risk friendship in this way, for most of us are not looking for criticism. We want approval and compliment. Friends can be very poor counselors, or they can be very good help. Let them help you.
5. In speaking or writing, do not attempt to be heavy and ponderous in the expression of your thought. You may have a weighty idea, but try to put it into words that will convey the thought in the easiest manner. It is more difficult for one who has but little learning to appear to be learned, than for a learned man to put language into simple form.
5. Try not to say too much. Most people have ability to assimilate about so much at any given time, just as the physical system can take only about so much food. Many men have spoiled a good sermon or speech by continuing when the mental cups of the audience were full and running over. I count it a high compliment when someone says to me, "I like your talks, for you seem to know when to stop." An everlasting impression is not necessarily the result of a talk that is interminable.
The work of the gospel minister is a sacred one. His purpose should be to impress the truth upon his hearers, and not to draw his congregation to himself. The thoughts we offer, the language we use, and the results we see from our efforts, should all be to the glory of God. Let us master our mode of speech to this end.
