Have You Figured Out by Now, The Answer To The Riddle?: Are These Words About Words Clear To You?
Have You Figured Out by Now, The Answer To The Riddle?: Are These Words About Words Clear To You?
Have You Figured Out by Now, The Answer To The Riddle?: Are These Words About Words Clear To You?
Each of us has learned to see that world not as it is but through the distorting glass of our
words. It is thru words that we are made human; and it is through words that we are
dehumanized.
A. Montagu
INTRODUCTION
Try answering this riddle: If words are only sound to which individuals associate a
learned meaning, are meaning in people or in sound?
As stated by Aldous Huxley in his book, Words and Behaviour words form the thread
in which we strong our experiences. Without them, we should live spasmodically and
intermittently. To this effect, we choose to give continuity to our experience by means of
words, which at times, attempt to falsify the facts and adversely modify ones behaviour or
character.
But what are really those words that come out from a receivers mouth? They are
mere collection of sounds after all, you may say. However, if we probe deeper, we find that
there is something more to the sounds that you hear. Behind those groups of sounds, there is
the revelation that therein lays the innermost core of the person. Through the exchange of
words, minds meet, merge and mesh. We make sense out of people through their messages.
Words can help initiate and maintain meaningful relationship into pieces.
Yes, dear reader! Meanings are in people not in words. But we dont just stop here.
We must move on further beyond recognizing that meanings exist in people. We must
likewise attempt to find the right words to say what we really mean, and how our innermost
thoughts and feelings are shared to affect a meaningful and growing relationship by using
words effectively.
Although we have clearly pointed out that meaning resides in people and not in
words, this is not suffice to say that we take our speaking or writing abilities for granted.
Try the following Skills Builders at home or during your free time and check your ability as a
verbal communicator:
2. Second, show the list, but cover your definitions, to your parents, older relatives,
or older friends, and ask them to define each word then write them down on the
last column. Compare your meaning for each term with the meaning given by
others you questioned. Why do you suppose their meanings are differed? Or in
other cases, why not?
Some of the meanings of the given words answered are the same and
some are different. One thing that I learned from meeting all sorts of people,
(different lifestyles, races and so on) is that people interpret words and phrases
differently. Knowing this, has helped me to be more clear with what I am saying
when I am talking to people. Also, from what Ive learned from my Englsih
Lessons, there is nothing special about the word that says it must be connected
to what it stands for. The only reason that words are symbols of something is
because they have been given meaning. This can cause problems when
people are communicating using arbitrary words that do not have an exact
meaning. Often times, words will mean one thing in a certain context and mean
another thing in a different context. This is why it is so important to study the
context to get a better understanding of the meaning.
3. Pretend it is now year 2020. Create new meanings for each of words listed.
4. Can you write new words/slangs you often hear young people say? Are there
terms peculiar only to young people? List them down.
These are slang and new words known in our generation today. These words are often
used with our friends, classmates and other people who in the age of 12 25 years
young in various settings such as in school, at home or even in the work place.
5. Enumerate as many gay lingo as you can.
Write your brief conclusion below as regards your insights gained from questions 1 to 5.
Through this activity, I learned and proved that words really evolve new
meanings from one generation to another and from one culture to another.
Understanding that people mean different things when they say the same thing
is an important concept for people to understand each other. This is an
important idea to remember whenever discussing anything important in a
relationship.
Interested in verbal taboos? Lets discover why individuals use dirty words.
1. Interview four people, two men and two women. They should be of the same
age. Ask each of them the following questions: (encourage them to be honest
and open)
Name (All aged 18) When do you Why do you use What obscene Do you ever
use obscene them at those words do you use obscenities to
words most? times? utilized most release
often, name them. pent-up
emotions?
Carlos Manansala All the time! Its a way for me Pota, Potaness, Yes
to really express Tang-ina!,
more what I feel. Gago,
Bimbo,
OMAYGAD!,
Shit, Bitch, & Fuck
You!
Lorenz Luistro Rarely, I dont like I have no idea. Shit! No
other people
hearing me speak
Obscene words.
Bea Pineda Sometimes, when I see and hear Pota & Tang-ina Yes
Im angry, my mother speak
embarrassed or obscene words
surprised. whenever shes
angry,
embarrassed or
surprised.
2. Analyze their responses, noting similarities and differences between and among
sexes. Write your findings below and give a brief conclusion.
Findings show that women regularly use obscene words than men but
men have a longer list of obscene words they often used. Men have a
longer list of obscene words because they have words pertaining to
women only such as pota and bimbo.
3. Are most young people of today verbally obscene? What can you suggest to
those who habitually use obscene words?
Yes, I firmly believe that most young people today are verbally obscene.
Though it is common to hear obscenity everywhere, it is still possible to learn
how not to use it. Obscene words often offend or hurt peoples feelings but
there are ways to avoid the regular used of this profane language. One of the
best ways for us to avoid the used of obscene words is that we must consider
our language. We have multiple ways to express our feelings, and obscenity
tends to leak out when we most need to express our feelings. One helpful way
to break from using obscene words is to arm oneself with an emotional
language. That hurts my feelings, I am really angry, or I feel frustrated.
Im tired, or Im impatient and cross.
What does your speech reveal about you? What kind of accent do you have? Do
you speak rapidly or slowly? Are you fluent both in English and Tagalog? What set of
vocabularies do you use? Are you understood easily and clearly by what you say and
how you say them? What impression do other people have on you with the way you
speak and say words? Do you verbally communicate effectively?
As honestly as you can, describe how you speak. On the space below, write a brief
report on what you think your speech and your words reveal about you. ask your
classmates, friends, and teachers to help you with their reactions, other things you can do
to assess yourself regarding this is to use a tape recorder as you get a sample of your
speech or to look in a mirror when you talk.
MY ASSESSMENT AS REGARDS MY SPEAKING BEHAVIOUR