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STEVEN IVORY: Words Way Overused
West is a lot of things--ambitious, successful and, though I appreciated his swipe at Bush regarding Washington's bungled response to hurricane Katrina, arrogant.
But a genius? Hmmmm.
That word used to be reserved for people like Albert Einstein, Madame Curie and Louis Armstrong, whose sheer brilliance, in ways both subtle and far reaching, left an indelible mark on mankind and popular culture.
West is neither innovator nor pioneer. Nothing wrong with that; the world is filled with people influential within the scope of established ideas and concepts. However, West's name followed by "genius" do both word and rapper a disservice.
But then, words such as genius--and innovator and legend and icon, once definitive and airtight in their declaration--are applied gratuitously these days.
In a 21st century society where cultural standards have plunged lower than the bar at a limbo championship, the spoken word has taken a serious hit. Characteristically, there isn't a heavy explanation for the void: we're lazy.
Alternately anxious and lackadaisical while stuck in a multitasking trance, we can't be bothered to communicate in more than a barely functional miscellany of basic English and trendy catch phrases, or acquaint ourselves with inspired jargon to describe people, places, situations or emotions. We've neutered words to accommodate whim.
Thus, everything is proclaimed "amazing," even if realistically it is merely "sufficient" or "remarkable." Back in the day, before the word was slowly emasculated, amazing was considered damn near Biblical.
Everything can't be amazing. Some things are just..."surprising." Show "staggering" some love. Occasionally, nudge the boundaries of your imagination and find another word. Please.
Meanwhile, "like" and "whatever" are used, like, ad nauseam--knowhatImsayin'?
The only utterance more annoying comes after a remark is made in earnest--systematically chased with, "Does that make sense?" Answer: No. The value of whatever you said before it is debatable, but THIS line, rhetorical and self effacing by dysfunctional design, makes no sense at all.
Nor does our collective neglect of language. Relying on just a handful of words to describe everything from grandma's meatloaf to the sex you had the night before is akin to never venturing outside your neighborhood or eating the same meal day after day.
Why should you explore new words? Well, because there are some really useful ones. Because life is big, the world is wide and succinct communication, in its beauty and might, is a wonderful thing.
And, language, considered and clearly articulated, quietly commands respect. The distinction sought for your life in designer clothes, the brand you sip or what you drive can actually be found in your willingness to elaborate coherently. Indeed, speaking well has about it a funky, sexy eloquence.
Nevertheless, there exists a word overused even more than those griped about here. Its infinite, seductive power to entice and incite has been exploited and abused since the beginning of time.
However, love is a subject for another column.
Steven Ivory's book, FOOL IN LOVE (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster) is in stores now or at Amazon.com (www.Amazon.com) Respond to him via STEVRIVORY@AOL.COM or MYfeedback@eurweb.com
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