“There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner. Wind themselves around your limbs like spider silk, and when you are so enthralled you cannot move, they pierce your skin, enter your blood, numb your thoughts. Inside you they work their magic.”
Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale
Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale
Words. They are all around us. We use them day and night to share thoughts, feelings, instructions and knowledge. But just how powerful can words actually be? If used correctly, words can move mountains, break down barriers, and point out injustice. They can create want, determination, fear, and sadness just by how they are used and placed in sentences. The way syllables are pronounced and strung together also create the emotion behind the word. When we hear a speech, see a movie, or listen to a song, the words that create these things are what make them a complete success or a complete failure. Words that are merely thrown together without thought or feeling behind them hardly convey the emotion in which they are capable of. Sometimes the best speeches and pieces of writing use the simplest of words; however, often times, they convey the strongest emotion. The video below is a video that meshes together many incredible and emotion filled sports speeches from movies, many in which are true stories.
For me personally, the way someone speaks and writes is what makes or breaks their ability to influence others. I have listened to amazing stories told by war veterans, Holocaust survivors and their families, and many, many sports speeches in my life. All of which have influenced me in one way or another due to the various emotions in which they conveyed. If it were not for such strong emotion behind these words, I would have not been as influenced as I was at the end of each speech.
"The way someone speaks and writes is what makes or breaks their ability to influence others," sums up what I believe in. Obviously you wouldn't want to listen to a speech by a speaker who talks in a monotone way. We would want something inspirational, yet simple and unique. It is especially depicted in your "Inspirational Sport Speeches," video. The coach could have only had to say, "C'mon guys! We can do this!" But the way he speaks, using particular words and actions (facial and hand actions to emphasize his meaning), pumps up his team to a different level. You're right: there is just something about words.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post! Words definitely have the power to do AMAZING things!! This rivals the old saying, "It's not just WHAT you say, it's HOW you say it". Words must be chosen carefully, especially due to what Mr. Carty said about how we so many words that mean so many different things in our language. The more we learn about words, the more we can change the world!!:)
ReplyDeleteThis post is so true! People don't realize how much influence you have when you are the master of the language. You can manipulate and create emotions or actions to be done using the power of words! Words are powerful things that if mastered can have you transfixed just like the sports speeches you showed us. I loved watching these sports speeches because they always pump me up and make me want to play. Each word in the speech is said in a certain way that adds to the effect of the speech. There's just something about words that affects us. If one can master the power of words they can captivate audiences, evoke emotions, and influence them to think a certain way.
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