“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Ephesians 4:29
My dog Raphael is smarter than the average bear. He rings a bell on the back door when he has to go potty. He pushes a bucket to play. He can fetch any stick no matter how big or small that I throw into the woods. And he knows words, big words. If I say popcorn, twizzlers, or even cinnamon roll he comes running with the biggest brown begging eyes you have ever seen. If I say bathtub or shampoo, he tries to hide in the corner of the house so I won’t find him. And If I say balloon, he runs into the basement because he is scared of how balloons “pop!”
Words show intelligence. And they are the primary way we human beings share our lives with each other. Like the Fed Ex truck that rolls into your driveway, words deliver ideas, thoughts, and sentiments from one person to another.
In. C. S. Lewis’ essay called “The Language of Religion”, he identified three types of languages and how they are used to positively communicate ideas between people. And each type is identified by its use:
- Ordinary Language: This is how we use words in everyday living. It is common speech that is measurable and understandable, it helps us function as community at a reasonable level. If I ask my mom to pour me a cup of her black coffee, she doesn’t need me to clarify or draw a picture. It immediately makes sense to her and my verbal transmission has been achieved.
- Scientific Language (including theological): C. S. Lewis says it improves upon ordinary language in the sense that it is precise in quantification. It helps to clarify communication and makes instruction more lucid, and controversy less muddled. If I ask the doctor what kind of cancer I am susceptible too, he can specify treatments and behavior that will help me prevent it from attacking my body.
- Poetic Language: It conveys quality of life by using adjectives and metaphor to feel, smell and taste what is trying to be communicated. Poetry is the language of the heart. Lewis says poetical language asks the speaker and receiver to meet halfway, and it requires good will to understand the other’s point. It has more complexity than ordinary and scientific language, it tries to reach deeper and more fully, but there is a goal to have mutual understanding reached.
C. S. Lewis says the beauty of the proper use of language is that it “does not permit final judgments. Whatever is known can be plumbed deeper.” And with the help of reason, proper language always allows for further and deepening understanding between finite human beings. As communicators we should always be willing to have our understanding changed and altered as long as language is properly used and agreed upon. He says, “Even a sure word can be refined further.” That is the nature of the proper use of language.
But recently I believe there has been one more type of language that cleverly snuck in to our conversations, or more specifically been imposed upon us by social leaders in our society. Instead of conversation being like a friendly Fed Ex truck coming to your house to drop of packages from another person; communication these days often arrives like a Bradley Tank armed with a fully loaded 25mm cannon standing ready to enforce compliance. I would call this fourth type of language as…
- Political Language: It is all about power and gaining advantage over other people. There no longer is the shared goal of “allowing for further and deepening of understanding”, political language is now used to silence all dissenters and enforce your singular view upon the rest of the world. Gone is the give and take of ordinary and scientific language, but now with the use of political language, reality and meaning is pushed and forced on others without even asking for their permission. Meaning is no longer a give and take, understanding has become fixed and unbending, unwilling to allow for mutual consent, and either you comply with the new political language or you face punishment.
Take pronouns for example: In the old days, if a person was a biological boy, ordinary language would simply reflect the clear reality that sensible people saw and agreed upon. A boy was a he and a him. Now a person’s pronouns are arbitrarily chosen and then demanded to be accepted by all even if the new reality betrays what is clearly evident. If you try to discuss and dispute with the person who is choosing their flexible pronouns, political language will force compliance because it says final meaning has already been decided. No longer is reason and logic allowed into the conversation.
The problem with our daily discourse is that Political language, like gangrene, has spread and is taking over and destroying all Ordinary, Scientific and Poetic language. It is everywhere, poisoning almost everything from classroom discussion to dinner party table talk. If a man expresses himself with Ordinary language to try to tell a girl he thinks she is pretty, society will say that “pretty” is toxic use of language because it’s roots come from rape culture and the man using that language should be punished for acting in a seemingly ordinary way. If a person uses Scientific language to discuss the biology of a newborn in the womb, or the sex of a baby outside of a womb, Political language cries foul and says we will no longer be imprisoned to ancient constructs of meaning. And Poetic language, especially humor, no longer can freely describe the thoughts and emotions of the heart for fear of offending someone who doesn’t feel like you feel.
Political language has neutered beauty, and silenced comedy.
Political language has stunted us, we are scared to discuss and go deep.
Political language has turned friends into enemies.
I think that is why I find myself talking to my dog more and more, he hasn’t once taken offense by what I have said, and he seems to always understand my intent. Raphael has never twisted my words, nor accused me of being anti-canine because I called him a “good boy.”
Maybe that is why people have always said that dogs are man’s best friend.
