Monday, September 8, 2014

There are Words, and Then Again, There are Words






In 2011 I wrote a post about words. Reading it again made me realize how today it’s even truer than it was then. I’m reposting it this week.

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I was going to blog about Bookstore Divas this week, but after listening to TV and news stories I’ve decided it’s time to write about words – words and figures of speech.

Several years ago, before “going postal” became a catch phrase, I was at work and talking to one of the maintenance men. I was mildly annoyed about something someone did (I can’t recall what or who) and I said, “Oh, I could just shoot him.” This maintenance man was horrified, and I was quite surprised. I hadn’t said it with venom, or even anger. I had to explain that it was only a figure of speech. He didn’t know what that meant so I had to explain it to him. By the time I walked away, I could have throttled the maintenance man, figuratively speaking.

As a writer, it breaks my heart to hear people trying to clip figures of speech out of the American dialogue. For crying out loud, not everything is meant to be taken seriously and not everything has a hidden or double meaning. A cliché is a cliché, and a figure of speech is just that – a figure of speech. There’s a time for political correctness (PC); however, I tend to think of PC as using common courtesy and common sense speech. Unfortunately, translation has gone way beyond accepting courtesy and common sense.

If I overheard someone plotting a murder and they said, “I could just shoot him,” that’s one thing. However, if I heard a friend say the same thing about the husband she was frustrated with, I wouldn’t give it a second thought. She would have been venting, letting go of some of her frustration, and that would probably be a good thing.

I was at the airport and someone asked me what I do for a living. I almost told her I write murder mysteries, but I caught myself and simply told her I’m a writer. Good grief! I didn’t want the TSA calling me aside because someone overheard me utter the word murder. I also didn’t want to be a diva and look down my nose at her and say, “I’m an author. (sniff)” I’m just a simple writer with simple ways, but I do write darned good mysteries that aren’t simple. I should be able to be proud of that and sing out the words, “I write murder mysteries! I think you’d like them,” without looking over my shoulder.

So, okay, as a writer I think people are getting carried away with the hidden meaning of words and phrases. I think the Word Police need to take a step back and think about the context in which these figures of speech are being used. Frankly, I think everyone should take a step back and hopefully realize they’re frequently making a big deal out of nothing. (Yes, I realize sometimes things are a big deal.)

I know we live in some trying and scary times and there’s more violence in the world than there should be. However, lighten up a little. There’s enough drama with what’s really going on today without worrying about catch phrases and clichés, especially in books. These are tools a writers uses from time to time and they’re also words that people use every single day, somewhere and in some way. It doesn’t mean everything they say should be taken literally.

This is at least the second time I’ve climbed up on my soap box, so it’s probably time to step down. I should get back to the mind-boggling idea of taking more comments with a grain of salt and letting others roll off my back. The only killing that goes on in my world is in books, and I’d like to keep it that way. Don’t take offense if one of my characters says something that’s not politically correct. They’re just fictional people, after all.

Until next time, have a great week and stop looking over your shoulder for the Word Police. Enjoy life at least a little.

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A Well-Kept Family Secret will soon be available in AUDIO format. Watch for it. In the meantime, What Are the Odds? is available in both ebook and paperback format.


16 comments:

  1. Well said, Marja! I'm embarrassed to say how many times I type something for Facebook or my blog and have to go back and rewrite it because I'm afraid of offending someone. It can make for some very bland reading!

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    1. That's such a shame, Amy. Sometimes we can say the most innocent thing and have someone read something into it. Good grief! Thank you so much for commenting!

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  2. Marja,
    Ah, a post after my own heart! I have a habit of saying, "Just shoot me," when something goes wrong in my life and I would hope that no one takes that statement literally. By the same token, I've been to known to say, "Ooh, I'd like to shoot him (or her)" and, once again, those are just words.
    As writers, we can't afford to write to try to please everyone. I think we need to be who we are, say and write what we need to say and write, with tact and diplomacy whenever possible, of course. And then, if someone takes offense, it's their problem, not ours. Some people are just looking for an excuse to criticize. How sad!

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    1. You hit it right on the head, Pat. I completely agree. You're right, some people are just looking for excuses. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  3. Well said, Marja. People take things far too literally and seriously these days. There are days I could strangle some of my neighbors, while sometimes a good head-slap would do. ☺

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    1. LOL Well, Heather, I'm sure you're using figures of speech. Hopefully? Thanks for my morning chuckle. And thank so much for commenting!

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  4. Good blog, Marja. And I couldn't agree with you more. While I don't think we should be insensitive to other people, I do feel like we have gone over board on the PC issue. Thanks for reminding us to use some good, common sense when we hear or read something.

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    1. You're right about insensitivity, Jim. Common sense and courtesy should prevail, not political correctness. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  5. I have a hard time keeping up with what is PC and what isn't and that rather stifles what I'm trying to say sometimes. Words I thought were perfectly fine apparently aren't now.

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    1. If it stifles your writing, Pat, forget it and say what you want to. The whole PC thing really has gone too far. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  6. I couldn't agree more. I like what you wrote so much that I reposted part of it on my own blog with a link to yours. Thank you for sharing your pithy thoughts.

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    1. Thank you, and thank you for sharing. I wish more people would try NOT to read things into what we say. It would be refreshing. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  7. Great blog, Marja. While I hand out lists of clichés to avoid to my writing students and they remark when each other uses them, often there are places for them - in dialogue, for instance, like "Oh, I could just shoot him." The cliché police AND the PC police are out there, however. I find it hard to use restraint of tongue and pen in many situations and sometimes I don't succeed. May your "Words" will stay with me! .

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    1. You're right when you say that dialogue is a good place for cliches. People use them often, so it makes sense to see them in a book. I understand what you mean about holding your tongue, too. Sometimes we just can't help ourselves. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  8. Imagine sitting at lunch with a writer friend plotting a murder for their next book. Folks at next table call security & police arrive to haul you off to jail. Hopefully said friend will (as usual) be carrying one of your books, pens or letter openers to diffuse situation. What a great publicity stunt if only those coming to cart you away have a sense of reality. Great article for this week when we face big anniversary on Thursday.

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    1. Excellent scenario, Jake! Thank you for using it here. And thanks for giving me a laugh.

      Not laughing about Thursday. I hope people remember the significance of that day. I'll never forget where I was, what I was doing, and how I felt.

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