Posts Tagged ‘language’

Be Heard. Speak Plainly.

Every semester I get a handful of students who have settled on the idea that the more big words they use, the better. Regardless of whether they know what those words mean or not.So I get papers elucidating the patriarchal configuration of the social arrangement, rather than telling me about male-dominated societies. Or they pontificate on the topic of inadequate provision of pedagogical resources vis-à-vis the particular requirements of participation… Continue reading

November 17 2008 | By Dustin | Tagged: clarity, language, plain, public-speaking, speaking, writing | 34 comments»

Edit This Post on Editing

Readers of Tim Ferriss's 2007 book The Four-Hour Workweek might be familiar with a quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupery that appears on page 65 of the book: "Perfection is not when there is no more to add, but no more to take away." This is especially evident in writing. Free-writing is the process of assembling raw material, but careful editing is like sculpture or construction. It is the process of… Continue reading

November 3 2008 | By Art | Tagged: editing, language, student, style, writing | 5 comments»

Just Keep Writing!

I get to write a lot. Fortunately, I like it because it is an important part of my job. I also find that writing helps me organize jumbled messes of thought. Here are notes on writing, which you should do daily no matter your occupation.

1. "Writing is research" (James Buchanan). This is the wisdom of 1986 Nobel Laureate James Buchanan, one of the most prolific

October 1 2008 | By Art | Tagged: language, motivation, research, student, writing | 10 comments»

Expand Your Verbal Intelligence

The most common method of thinking in the Western world is verbal thinking. Although we have a range of intelligences including numerical, musical, spatial, emotional, verbal and kinaesthetic intelligences, it is verbal intelligence that we depend on most. We tend to think and express ourselves in words.

It can be argued that mastery of the use of words and verbal intelligence is the most important skill we develop… Continue reading

September 8 2008 | By Paul | Tagged: dictionary, intelligence, language, speech, thinking, verbal, vocabulary, word, writing | 10 comments»

Buzzwords Are Disposable, Human Beings Are Not

Photo by autanEvery month, there are new business books on the market promising "secrets & insights" into "exciting change" which is happening... right now! They often use curiosity-baiting phrases like "Learn how [BUZZWORD] is transforming the way we communicate" or "Use the power of [ANOTHER BUZZWORD] to engage your customers".Buzzwords include but aren't limited to "Web 2.0", "virtual worlds", and just about anything… Continue reading

August 20 2008 | By Torley | Tagged: business, buzz, buzzword, Communication, language, marketing, media, mindhack, social, story | 6 comments»