Art of Words

Words, according to Mr. Webster, are any spoken or written ideas, messages or brief remarks. Simple definition as it may seem, word carries various thoughts and deep meaning. It’s like a river infinitely flowing into the unknown. Aren’t we a little bit curious on how these words came to be? What is the essence of these groups of letters that we fondly call as words?

Well, it was said that the ancient Phoenicians, tired and helpless of their situation, created the alphabet which was the beginning of speech. These alphabets, grouped together, were formed into words which we now use in everyday conversations. It is amazing how these words were formulated. We are very lucky to be in a generation that uses abundant words, unlike the prehistoric beings who used only hand gestures to communicate.

Each one of us speaks a thousand words each day. Even if we do it in different languages, we still mean the same thing. Heroes have become well-known and popular because of their writings. Take for example, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. He did not fight for freedom with the use of swords and pistols. He did it in a different way, for he believed that pen is mightier than any powerful weapon. He liberated our country through his writings. As the quote “Actions speak louder than words” would say, certainly they speak louder, but others would prefer to stay quiet and low.

Candidates for election in different positions also use words to animate their listeners and convince the people to accept their platform. See how powerful words can be!

Conversely, the cumbersome nature of words is always the source of war and tragedy. Great battles are often caused by heated arguments between tongues. Although our ancestors thought of words as means of communication, many are using them in a wrong way, criticizing and prejudicing others and throwing them into damnation. Others use words to hurt people. A sharp word hurled by someone whom you thought as a friend and confidant is very painful indeed; this is the dark side, the hidden peril of a beautiful day.

But like any other things, there is always a yin and a yang (a negative and a positive). If you just delve deeper, you can see the true beauty of words. The role they play in our day-to-day living is very vital for without them we may not understand each other.

Words are beautiful conceptions of mankind. They add colour to our dull and frugal life. They give us a sense of life, a breath of existence. Just remember, we can’t replay the past or run the time backward. So let us play our “words” well.