Verbal Barrage

Frequently we hear people complain of the inadequacy of words. The timid student is often heard to say that he know the answer but can’t express it. There are times in the lives of all of us that defy the limits of language. Sometimes we sense great thoughts that surpass our ability to express. But this complaint about the inadequacy of words has no reference to any scarcity of talk. We turn over our comparatively limited vocabulary so many times in saying so much that is commonplace and obvious that it would seem that the words would lose much of their meaning, and, indeed, they do. The careless use of a word will dull its sharpness, just as will the careless use of a tool. This frequent turn-over of words is one of the wasteful practices of our talkative time. Loose, small talk is often substituted for thought, and often used to cover up the superficiality of social situations: “therefore, let thy words be few,” says a significant source. “Cease from all your light speeches…from all your pride and light-mindedness.” “Cast away your idle thoughts…far from you.” “For our words will condemn us…and our thoughts will also condemn us.” “Let your words tend to edifying one another.” But if, with all this barrage of language our words should become tiresome and tedious and unconvincing, there is still the opportunity to make our lives convincing. “My life is my message,” said Magatma Ghandi, which may be just another way of saying what an old saying says: “Actions speak louder than words.” “My life is my message.” It is so with all of us.