Friday, October 24, 2003

Word

One of my many pet peeves is the overuse of the word "Word!" in conversation. It mean -- or at least I interpret it to mean -- "I agree with what you just said." Knowing full well that I am behind the times in hip phrases and slang, I asked my boyfriend Google about the word "Word". I jumped over to the International Slang Word and Phrase Dictionary to make sure I was correct in my interpretation of "word".
Word having the final say in an argument.

Not as close as I thought. I've never associated it with an argumentative situation. I've always thought of it as a more friendly "Amen Brother" kind of thing. The Online Slang Dictionary courtesy of Berkeley suggests the following:
Word exclamation 1. an affirmation of agreement. (Question: "I'm going to the movies tonight, dawg - you want to go?" Response: "Word!") Submitted by Slink, FL, USA, 02-04-1998. 2. When used as a question, equivalent to "Are you serious?" ("Statement: "I met Michael Jackson!" Response: "Word?" Submitted by Jasmine, Washington Twp., NJ, USA, 06-12-2002.

That seems closer, although I don't think I've ever seen or heard it used as a question. SlangSite says
Word I agree.
Example: Somebody says something, you say word.


One phrase. Heck, it's just one word. With three different interpretations.

Words can be tricky. Ask General William Boykin. He's in a heap of trouble over a few verbal bombs he has dropped over the past few weeks, and now he is under internal investigation. It's not surprising to me (although it is to him, go figure) that he finds himself in the proverbial verbal doghouse. His central argument with the world at large was based on the classic nanny-nanny boo-boo philosophy "mine is bigger than yours" ("Mine" meaning God), and those words aren't going to sit very well with a large segment of the population. Predictably, Boykin is now singing the familiar song of last defense: "I was taken out of context, Doo-dah, Doo-dah". Uh huh.

Words don't give you a chance for a mulligan (that's a "do-over" in golf-speak) if you screw up. Once you've said them, you're stuck with them. If your words are smart, or witty, or thought provoking or humorous, this can be a good thing. But if they are insensitive ("Watch that little monkey run!"--Jimmy the Greek), boneheaded ("What a waste it is to lose ones mind --Dan Quayle), stupid ("I did not have sex with that woman" --Bill Clinton) or cruel ("I will pursue as my primary goal in life the killer or killers. They are out there somewhere" --O.J. Simpson), you may be spending a long time explaining yourself over and over again. You can apologize, beg forgiveness, say you were misquoted, or taken out of context, but words stick to you forever. Even after you're gone, your words live on. Doo-dah. Doo-dah.

Despite my excessive electronic ramblings to the contrary, I am not sure I'd categorize myself as being a person of a great many words. I enjoy getting my zings in where and when I can, and certainly there are times when I need to be clunked on the head with a shut-up anvil, or taken to task with a giant delete button. But overall, I prefer to have my actions do the talking. I'd rather listen first and talk second. I would hope that my words would support and not contradict my behavior. I'm not saying actions cannot be misinterpreted as well. But over the length of days, which is more powerful and more meaningful --- what a person says, or what a person does?

As I am currently caught in the struggle over the interpretation of words, I have come to realize how powerful words can be. Over the past several weeks, I have listened to and read the words of people exhorting their expert opinion on the exact, irrefutable meaning of words. Interestingly, in many cases, the level of expertise appears to have a direct correlation to the personal perception of power -- educational, social, financial. These words somehow are thought to carry more weight than others. These opinions matter more than others. Words. Words. Words.

But in the end, it's just words. And if there is anything I've learned and worked so hard to instill in TinyTuna, it's the fact that while words are a good first step, it's the next step that really counts. It's what you do. It's the actions that back up your words. It's Missouri. TinyTuna gets it, even when she'd rather not. "I know mom. It's not just what I say. It's what I do." I only wish adults understood this concept.

Easier said than done?
Definitely.

Actions speak louder than words?
Word.
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