Apart from defining their history, the etymology of words give the the political and social scenario that surrounds them and are of much use in assigning meanings. In fact, in the short run, the way a society uses a word says a lot about changes taking place and the people guiding that change.
Listening to a YouTube video that used the phrase “global order” to define current situation internationally brought my attention to how value-biased these words used by the media are. While little has changed globally except for a challenge to the west from the societies that are suffering from its excesses, the “international liberal order” has changed to “global order” in the everyday parlance of the media. Also filled with deceit is the way in which some sovereign country rules are addressed as regimes, as if the authority they derive is not from the people but some idea of kingship. The speakers know it well- the trickery of their trade- and they also know the naive listeners who are eager to believe anything barked from behind a podium from a person in coat with cool manners.
Two years ago, I trekked alone to the Yelagiri hills that adorns the background of Jolarpettai railway station. That walk into nature had given me some much needed alone time and a chance to contemplate the value of silence along with how much meaning it carries in relation to the words. Like a beautiful piece of music, the silence in our speech speak just as much as the notes. Any listener to a one-sided lecture from his/her TV set must appreciate the risks such music carries. The music may lead to a deep slumber or hallucination of Shangri La and close eyes to the reality that was so obvious if silence was observed.
“Speak only if it improves upon the silence”
-M. K. Gandhi.
