Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Word Police on Patrol
There’s this interesting video where a girl asks why we call something “man-made” (here) when women were also a part of its construction.
Many explode with rage over the suggestion that we alter or update our language. I’m not one of them. People who rage at the idea that we use a new word are annoying.
Equally irritating are those who attack anyone who fails to use the most modern terms. The rules of vocabulary are ever-shifting and agreed-upon by unofficial consensus of … who knows?
I don’t agree with either extreme. Language is an art and is always inexact. It’s clumsy and messy. Rarely does someone use it with laser-like precision. Rarer still, does someone use with adherence to the human rights and history, etc. One could argue that any popular language is by default the tongue of a conqueror.
Then there’s context. Context is king. Who is speaking? To whom? Where? What’s the goal? Speed? Accuracy? The environment? Formal? Casual? So many variables come into play.
Context is the Forest, Words are the Trees
I experienced the power of context during a recent trip to Mexico, where I attempted to speak Spanish. I use an app to practice. It’s challenging and fun, but a little impractical. I like to joke that if I’m ever in Mexico and someone asks me ‘Is the cat sitting on the table?’ I’m all set.
Haha, right? But when I was in Mexico, my abilities were far better than I expected. I think I owe that sudden boost to context. When you’re in a hallway and you must step around someone, you need a simple phrase. Even if you botch it, they know you mean, “excuse me.” If you’re in an airport or a hotel or a restaurant and you approach a clerk, chances are you’re asking how to find the toilet.
Yes, I’m a wordsmith (sounds cooler than ‘writer.’) But I don’t agree that words should be policed with the zealotry they often are. Communication is sloppy and imperfect. That’s also part of the fun. That looseness allows for creativity. Verbal jazz, baby. Word artistry, dig?
The Mysterious Case of the Appreciated Films
Back to the girl who complained about the term “man-made.” I agree with her. It’s a lousy term. Not a crime, but not great. Some roll their eyes at word-changing suggestions. I don’t. It’s better to consider the argument. So please, travel with me along my thought-path as we assess our friend’s suggestion that we ditch “man-made.”
As a man, it’s easy for me to retort, “In that context, when we say ‘man-made’ we mean human-made.” I could stop there, but let’s fire up some empathy. Such an open-n-shut judgment is easy for me to say — since I happen to fall into the group. But it seems to have irked the girl — and I know it irks women of all ages.
It reminds me of when the original Black Panther and Wonder Woman films came out. The first ones were above-average flicks. But people were reacting positively to them far and above enjoying a great movie. They were ecstatic. Many explained how wonderful it was to finally see someone who looked like them as the hero.
I’m ashamed to admit I was a little confused by that. I thought, what’s the big deal? Superheroes embrace universal values. Then again, for a long time, most comic book and movie heroes appear as males of European ancestry like me. I never thought of it until I saw others’ reactions.
Taking Representation for Granted
I had been taking my representation for granted. I never knew it was something one could desire because I never felt its absence. Well, I know now. Representation matters — and if it matters to you, it matters to me.
Some efforts to change language seem lazy, an attack on the easy part of a genuine problem. But sometimes it’s as simple as an inconsequential switch with a big payoff. I’m not going to fight to the death to use the term “man-made.” “Artificial” works as well and doesn’t alienate half of our species.
But then, I won’t hate someone if they use an antiquated word. Words don’t matter as much as intent. Clinging to an inexact word is not something I care to do, but being able to express an idea with maximum force?
Now, that is what I’m passionate about.
Image by Bing Copilot AI. Prompt: create an image of a smooth cool jazz trumpet player along on a stage in a spotlight in a dark nightclub. There is a stream of letters coming out of his trumpet