Communication FUNdamentals

Aug. 19, 2008

Words Mean Things, Don't They? -Part 1

You may never know it by listening to political rhetoric, TV commercials or the main-stream media, but words actually mean things.  Specific things!  If we allow ourselves to get caught up in the current trend to re-define words and to use them as we see fit, we end up with confusion or saying nothing.  If we don't realize that today's societal trend is to adopt a Shakespearian attitude in applying meanings to words, we may be fooled into believing just about anything.  In the next several weeks, I will be sharing some of the ways in which words are misused, the main reasons words are purposely misused and how to discern the truth by paying close attention the real meaning of words.  This week's word is...Natural.  Natural is a word misused by the advertising industry and is one of my Dad's pet peeves.  Natural means "existing in or produced by nature : not artificial."  (Merriam Webster.com)   Let's take a look at some of the ways in which the word natural is used in advertising.  "All Natural"                                           "Natural Goodness!" "Naturally Good!" Advertisers use the word "natural" in a way that leads you to believe that, if it occurs in nature, it has to be good for you.  This is simply not true.  Here is a short list of things that exist in nature that are NOT good for you. Tornados (and other Natural Disasters) Scarlet Fever (and some people reportedly die of Natural Causes) Cocaine (but this is not what you would consider a Natural High) Why is this an important distinction?  There are things that exist in nature that are not good for you when taken in large amounts-like salt.  If you drink too much water in a short period of time, you can die.  We know this from the radio stations that have had water drinking contests!  "Natural" potato chips may be better for you, but if you eat them in excess, you will still gain weight.  If you eat them exclusively, you are not getting the nutrition you need.  Related to all things natural is the word "Organic".  Organic foods are all the rage lately.  Naturally good for you.  Consumer Reports did a study several years ago about Organic Foods.  They determined that organic foods containing no pesticides were no more healthy than those that used pesticides.  In fact, they determined that some organic foods might contain a larger amount of micro organisms for which the pesticides are used.  In fact, it found that it can be dangerous to buy organic fish and seafood because fish can contain mercury which is also natural.    In general, it is true that things are better the way they are created by God in nature.  However, let's not be fooled.  The Lord gave the Jews many laws in the Bible, the purpose of which was to protect them from some of the more deadly things that are "natural".  Words mean things, don't they?  Stay tuned for next week's edition of Tuesday Tips featuring another misused word or term.  From JoJo's Purple Crayon... Where's FIMM?  Did you find himm this week? Where's FIMM? Come find the only Foot in Mouth Man picture that is different from all the rest. Email what he looks like and where you found himm to fimm@artofeloquence.com and you could win a free Art of Eloquence eProduct of your choice!

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