Language Can Shape Worlds
“Language is not just a means of communication, it is a means of perception, a window into our souls. And just as the windows of our homes frame the world outside, so too do the words we choose frame the world within us.” Orhan Pamuk, (Snow, 2002)
Inside and outside of our church community, there are strong feelings about the division and direction of our country, which often leads to words that cannot be taken back. As adults, we must remember that words are active and direct. They don’t meander. They strike, and they land. Words can be tools of power, precision, and persuasion. They can be used to rile up a crowd or calm it, to divide people or bring them together, to educate or manipulate.
History is full of moments where words shaped the course of events. Paul Kiernan reminds us, “The Gettysburg Address wasn’t just a speech; it was a redefinition of a nation’s ideals, and it was only 272 words long. In less than three minutes, Abraham Lincoln reshaped the meaning of democracy and sacrifice. Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech did not just describe a vision; it moved mountains of resistance. Winston Churchill’s wartime speeches, such as We Shall Fight on the Beaches, galvanized a nation to stand strong in its darkest hour. The Declaration of Independence was nothing but words on parchment—yet those words ignited a revolution.”
In the days of the printing press, individual letters were stored in compartments above the press, waiting to be aligned into words and printed. Those letters were called ‘actions.’ Letters waiting to be formed into words were not passive. They weren’t just sitting there as meaningless shapes. They were waiting to do something.
Brad Hook explains, “Language is more than just a means of communication; it is a powerful tool that shapes our emotions, beliefs, and energy levels. Words carry weight and symbolism, triggering emotional responses and influencing how we think and behave. Words have the power to evoke emotions; a phenomenon deeply rooted in our brain’s wiring.”
People often treat words as mere labels for objects, and languages as different ways to string words together to convey thoughts, feelings, and concepts. But language is more than that. With language, we can exchange complex thoughts and ideas with one another, spoken aloud or written, triggering emotions, imagination, and action.
Language is a component of culture that makes it unique and specific. In Irish culture, people are not defined by their emotions. Emotions come and go. Padraig O’Tuama, Irish poet and theologian, explains, “In Irish culture, when you talk about an emotion, you don’t say, ‘I am sad.’ You’d say, ‘Sadness is on me – Ta’ Bron Orm.’ I love that because there’s an implication of not identifying yourself with the emotion fully. I am not sad, it’s just that sadness is on me for a while. Something else will be on me another time, and that’s a good thing to recognize.”
Many of us face challenges and are overcome by negativity or run by emotions. We so easily get hijacked by the world around us, the people we meet along the way, or the chaos of it all. We all have said one time or another, “I’m angry,” “I’m depressed,” or “I’m stressed,” but maybe we all need to change the basics of that narrative. With a simple adjustment, we can recognize that these things are not who we are. They are not part of us. They just move in and move out of us and are part of the fluidity of life. Consider what the Irish would say: “Anger is on me,” “Depression is on me,” and “Stress is on me.” This too will pass.
Language plays a crucial role in shaping our beliefs. Words are symbolic representations of our thoughts and experiences, and the language we use can reinforce or challenge our belief systems. A well-placed apology can mend a broken relationship. A thoughtful "I believe in you" can be the push someone needs to keep going. Even silence—knowing when not to speak—can be a strategic use of words. Words alone don’t create change—people do. But without trust in words, the bridges we build between ourselves and others begin to collapse.
As we come upon the holiday season, when emotions can surge and tumble, let us remember that words don’t need to be grand to be powerful, no matter their intent.
Eileen Brogan