Plain talk: Get the FACTS

The markers that would grade my Masters assignments, always complained that I was only giving them facts and too little analysis. The same trait that made it difficult to write analytical reports was just what I need to be a writer. I love facts and I have faith in my readers to understand the facts and arrive at their own conclusions. This is how good journalism in a democracy works. When a news report or article depends on a few facts, that can’t be verified using credible sources and arrives at a conclusion for you, chances are it’s propaganda and not journalism.

You know what is critical to communicating facts? A good understanding of words and their meanings.

That is the basis of all knowledge. So, imagine my dismay when more than once this week I observed individuals on my TV being downright disrespectful to the dictionary. When even facts are no longer universally agreed upon, words and their meanings remain constant. If we can’t even leave the meaning of words alone, how can there be any clarity in communication? You don’t get to change the meaning of words to suit yourself and what you want to project, that’s just wrong.

These days, agnotologists (people who specialise in creating ignorance and doubt) are just changing the meaning of words, in an ad hoc manner. The number of spin doctors these days, is enough to make you dizzy. I am old school, in my day if you wanted spin, you went to a DJ clash. Now you just turn on the news. The nonsense that comes out of the mouths of some of these individuals, you have to wonder if they assume the viewing public are a collection of village idiots.

I recently had the misfortune to watch an interview that pushed a number of my buttons but one exchange in particular, really got my goat. I am quoting from the transcript to ensure I am not projecting my unconscious bias by para-phrasing.

Interviewer:

I’ve read articles saying you are complicit… Can you just weigh in on how you feel about that? There’ve been articles. There’ve been parodies. What do you think about that-- that accusation?

Interviewee:

If being complicit is wanting to be a force for good and to make a positive impact, then I’m complicit. I don’t know that the critics who may say that of me, if they found themselves in this very unique and unprecedented situation that I am now in, would do any differently than I’m doing. So I hope to make a positive impact. I don’t know what it means to be – complicit – but – but, you know, I hope time will prove that I have – done a good job and much more importantly, that my father’s administration is the success that I know it will be.

Really? Why didn’t she say the last part first? You know the whole bit about not knowing what the word complicit means? She could have saved herself and the audience, a lot of hot air. Even better, how about preparing for an interview so you don’t come off as completely vapid? Now there’s a radical idea. I am a big believer of people being free to voice their opinion, and completely against the silencing of women, but to say I was annoyed by this young lady was an understatement.

I learnt one very important thing though, poise is in no way related to good sense or intellect.

I firmly believe in freedom of speech (even though it’s not enshrined in our Constitution) which means it is okay to have different ideas and someone else’s opinion is just as valid as my own, even when I don’t agree with it. One place where that does not apply is the dictionary. Although you are free to use all the words in it, you don’t have the freedom to change their meanings.

The same young lady earlier mentioned was also heard in another interview repeatedly using the word “architecting”. I mean, what the H E double hockey sticks is that? So now she’s a serial language abuser? Although some words and terms appear in everyday communication that are outside the traditional dictionary, they fall under ‘slang’ and can be listed in the urban dictionary (yes, there is such a thing). Some of these words can even find their way into the traditional dictionary. Architecting is not a word, it’s not even slang and like covfefe, is most likely just the lexicon of a very odd family.

Truth is, it doesn’t matter how designer your dress or Park Avenue your accent, everyone is bound by the same words. Vocabulary and the dictionary are the great equalisers in society. A high net worth does not give anyone the right or the authority to change the meaning of a word to suit them or to soothe their bruised sense of self. Redefining words to suit yourself means one of two things: either you’re using a word you don’t know the meaning of, or you have something to hide. For people in public life neither is acceptable.

One of my favourite Lord Funny classic calypsoes is True Sense of the Word. It is a humorous tune riddled with double entendre. He brilliantly plays between the literal and implied meanings of words to make his puns. He argues that all words are fit for use, as long as it is in the right context. The dictionary is well equipped to help us all express ourselves, no redefining necessary.