@ Ken – You make another good point — we do have to balance the simple language with the engaging, especially if we want wider comprehension. I think where you are writing, and who you are aiming to engage factor largely into this balance.

I agree with always being “conscious of our own use of language, the language we absorb, and what any changes mean”. Being conscious of these shifts, and being deliberate with our meaning must necessarily take into account what others can also understand.

It is when others have not taken the time and practice to understand the language as well as you, that there is a significant margin for misinterpretation. So one has to balance the simplistic, repetitive approach in writing (or speaking) to ensure being understood with the engaging language that promotes and maintains communication.

Best wishes
from Middle-earth

I think the essence of this post should be known by writers. It makes articles readable and clear.

This article is quite similar to what I have read in “The Book on Writing” by Paula LeRocque.

Thanks for sharing

your friend Relax ~

Relax´s last blog post..Using time resource to do well in study

http://www.jenx67.com/2008/12/blogging-is-dangerous.html

jenx67´s last blog post..Go Somewhere New

I finally wrote the post from the mind map exercise, inspired by the Go Somewhere New post. The subject from my mind map I decided to tackle first is, “Blogging is Dangerous.”

I promise to follow up, someday, with “Blogging is Glorious.”

jenx67´s last blog post..Go Somewhere New

I just finished reading through that stimulating discussion — of course, I had to read each and every link! I think that all these intelligent insights ultimately point to one important thing: it is essential that we are always conscious of our own use of language, the language we absorb, and what any changes mean. As long as we are conscious of these shifts, we can be deliberate with our meaning.

Thanks so much for pointing me to those posts

Thanks for this post.

Words are fascinating. I recently had a discussion with Virginia Yonkers on this very topic of words/language/speech and change. It had been initiated by a comment I’d left on Kim Cofino’s post What is Literacy.

I am a great admirer of George Orwell’s writing, and have been since a child. He was a straight talker.

Catchya later

Ken Allan´s last blog post..TRUST – A Strange Human Emotion

@ Alex – That is delicious irony! Hm, did that factor into why she is an ex…? I kid .

@ Trina – Hand in hand for sure. Speaking from experience, I definitely think teenage girls are a high-risk group for deteriorating language skills!