Whether you’re a get-to-the-point communicator or a wild-and-wooly wordsmith, you’ll be a better writer if you tap both sides of your brain: the logical, pragmatic, Vulcan side, and the intuitive, sensory, Klingon side. How? By employing words from the two most prominent strains in the English language:
- Latinate words, derived from Latin, Greek and other analytical languages (such as Vulcan), are systematic, logically constructed, and often made up of multiple syllables representing each of the components from which they are constructed. Hence, a Latin word for talk, communicate, consists of comm (with) uni (shared) and cate (the act of doing).
- Anglo-Saxon words, on the other hand, are derived from old Germanic and other tactile languages (such as Klingon); they are intuitive, based on visceral responses, often made up of just one or two syllables representing the way things look or feel. Hence, an Anglo Saxon word for talk, chat (short for chatter) simply sounds like what it means.
- Latin will inform you that if two cars drive toward one another at high speeds they will collide, from the root words for “strike” and “together.”
- Anglo Saxon will warn you that they’re going to crash! Because that’s the sound they make when they collide!
Which should you use? Both. By tapping into a full range of telling and showing words, you’ll capture the reader’s whole mind. Because the human brain doesn’t just think, it also feels. Put another way: You, the writer, are your reader’s sensory portal. Just like their five physical senses, your words will enable them to both understand and experience the story or essay you’re writing.
So when you write, and especially when you re-write, use the whole palette of colors: dark and light, warm and cool, muted and vivid. Which of these sentences expresses the idea most fully?
- Latinate: “Anxious, I ambulated expeditiously to my place of residence.” (The logical Vulcan thing to do)
- Anglo Saxon: “Afraid, I hurried home.” (Though no true Klingon would ever admit to being afraid)
- Both: “With a deep* sense of foreboding,** I rushed* home* to my apartment,** my tiny* but treasured** sanctuary.”**
*Anglo Saxon words **Latinate words
And finally, I’ll leave you to Trek your way through these two immortal sayings:
“Infinite diversity in infinite combination.” ~Vulcan Proverb
“Own the day!” ~Klingon Proverb
Great advices!
Toss this into the hopper: the Hebrew words for collide and crash are quite similar, but the cool thing is the odd cognate from a language that existed long before English. These words will be translated as either collide or crash depending on context: hit’nagesh and hit’rasek (also related: hit’ras’kut, hit’nap’tzut, and hit’nag’shut).
Interesting. Hits the linguistic ball out of the park!
It does indeed, Ed! I understand that ancient Hebrew is a very intuitive language, full of onomatopoeic words.
Zowie! Biff! Wham! Pow! May be why so many of our superheroes were created by Jewish artists/authors.
https://www.oakland.edu/Assets/Oakland/religiousstudies/files-and-documents/faculty-research/Klein,%20Rabbi%20Joe%20-%20Superheroes%20Lecture%20March%208,%202016.pdf
;>)
I loved this post! I guess that means that I am not a Vulcan, but I will appropriate their verbiage when appropriate. I shudder to think that I may be more Klingon than I would like to admit, but in writing that may not be dangerous.
Sounds like you may have a future in composing Klingon operas, Bonnie.
What also interests me is that much of what we call profanity is nothing more than good old one-syllable Anglo-Saxon, whereas Latinate words for the same thing or act are usually socially acceptable, which as I understand it, goes back to the Norman conquest, when French was the language of royalty and Anglo-Saxon the language of peasants.
Dear Anonymous, I’d not heard that till now, but it connects a few important dots in this narrative, so thank you!
You didn’t volunteer which dominates your writing, Mitch…
I’m primarily a Vulcan — but that corresponds directly to the fact that I am essentially a nonfiction writer/researcher. Seems to me that Klingons lean towards the fictional, theatrical side of the equation.
You’re correct, of course, that we need both sides of our creativity for affective writing, and communication in general.
I wrote a post on the “Norse Linguistic Invasion” nearly a decade ago which addresses some of the themes you highlight here.
Great post… especially for us Star Trek fans!
Thanks, Rob!
Mitch, that was interesting. Ok, English is not my mother tongue but still, this way of looking at the choice of words, amazes me.
English is messy, but, oh, so expressive.
Ah, yes it is!!!
🤔 Very logical / 🤗 Cool!
;>)
Great advice! I always enjoy hearing from a craftsman like yourself. And you certainly do lead by example.
Aw, thanks, my friend.
I’m heavy on the Klingon side but working on it
Excellent Star Trek analogy!
Thanks, Liz!
You’re welcome, Mitch!
How does Flintstonian measure up to Vulcan and Klingon? 🙂
Very primal, with lots of enthusiastic expressions, like, “Yabba-dabba-doo!”
Love the analogy, bullseye Mitch!!
Thanks, Vincent!
I love the use of Trek to demonstrate a point about writing. How fun! I agree with what you shared and would also add a little Ferengi for sass and flair!
Plus, Ferengi is particularly well-suited to gaining material wealth!
Thanks ! I’m writing a book and this is helpful . I need to look up your other tips!
Glad it’s of use to you, PK!
So love this! Vulcan for sure!
;>)
Interesting! 🧐
I wish I can work with you company. In blogger WordPress.
The collision of these ideas in my brain crashed my thought process so badly, now I cannot remember how it happened.😳
Great advice! Thank you, Mitch.
My pleasure, Iman.