3 Ways To Using Words Wisely

Choosing your words wisely is probably the basis of all spoken communication. No matter what type of conversational setting a person is in, making sure the right message being conveyed is all in what words that person uses.

1. Watch what you say in front of certain people. I think that this is very important because there are some things that you don’t tell people. Whether it’s something mean or something personal, that should remain personal, everything isn’t meant for everyone to hear. You also want to make sure that if you are telling a person something, that you’re okay with anyone around possibly overhearing what you say. If you’re not comfortable with someone around knowing what you have to say, then it’s simply not the right time or place for you to say it.
2.  Understand that a lot of words in the English language have more than one meaning and it’s very possible for your words to be taken out of context or misinterpreted by using these words incorrectly. My advice would be to use any synonym of the word if possible and if you’re not able to use a synonym, make sure to use context clues in your wording so that the person or people you’re talking to understand which definition of the word you’re trying to use.
3. I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase, “It’s not what you say, but how you say it.” This simple cliche also plays an important part of using words wisely. The pronunciation and annunciation of a word doesn’t have the power to change the meaning of it, but it can definitely change the interpretation of it.

Opinions & Silence

Now, I know what some of your are thinking, “How can you be silent if you have to voice your opinion?” The answer, you don’t have to voice your opinion.

After hearing a small group of teenage females talking while standing behind them in line to check out at the store. Now, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I did over hear them talking about sex.  No biggie, we’re all grown, I’m a mature guy, and I know that reproduction has literally been going on since the beginning of time. The angle that the conversation took was what took me back a little. One girl, looked to be no more than 17, asked, “If I think a guy I’m sleeping with unprotected is sleeping with someone else and we’re not in a relationship, what should I do?” One of her friends said something along the lines of, “As long as the sex is good and he doesn’t give you anything, keep sleeping with him, ” and the trio continued to talk bouncing off opinions and they checked out and left the store.

Now, I’m far from a morals expert, but I just felt like the friend just steered the girl in the wrong direction. Sometimes, it’s just best to keep some things to yourself. And this can work in many different situations and scenarios. Sometimes no opinion is the best opinion a person can have and by staying silent, that person remains neutral and other people can think fro themselves, because I hope that that girl did not take her friend’s advice.

T.I. Speaking on Hip-Hop Music

(Rapper T.I. speaking on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah, 9.12.16)

Sometimes I think that people forget that music is the most influential form of spoken art that there is. Rap and Hip-Hop have always been considered controversial and I think T.I. does a wonderful job of explaining why. Yes, violence is what most rap and hip-hop consists of, but it is also the truth. With all of the backlash that the two genres receive, it’s obvious that some people can’t handle the truth, but that doesn’t change the fact that it needs to be said. And T.I. made a very valid point of saying that someone who disagrees with the content of the music should work to give the artist more positive content to write, sing, and/or rap about.

Speaking Out

This post isn’t necessarily about spoken word, but it is about speaking out. I do have a certain stance on the police brutality and Black Lives Matter Movement, being a young Black man in America. To avoid and conflict or confrontation, I’ll do my best not to say anything too controversial while stating my viewpoints on the issue. I’m a very understanding person and I have a short series of questions for those who are against BLM and come up with reasons for what a Black person did wrong or should’ve done differently to prevent getting shot.

• If all lives matter, what’s the issue with Black people saying that their lives matter?
• Why do you speak out against the new Black Panther Party, but didn’t speak out when the KKK announced that they were making a return?
• Why do you voice your opinion about Black people making an uproar when a Black person is killed due to police brutality, but you all don’t cause an uproar when a White person is killed due to police brutality?
• Is it possible for someone to explain to me why there’s so much hatred for Colin Kaepernick and Olympic athletes for “disrespecting the flag”, but no one sees an issue with it when political figures do the same thing the athletes did?
• If all lives matter, why aren’t you all standing with those saying Black lives matter to in turn prove that all lives matter?
• How is it that you call Black people the racists because we “turn everything into a race issue”, but don’t see that statements like that cause us to turn everything into a race issue?

If anyone has the answers, please feel free to enlighten me so that I can have a better understanding of what it’s like on the other side of the fence.

-TheSpokenArt

“The System”

With so much going on in the United States around the topics of police brutality, the Black Lives Matter Movement, athletes and celebrities speaking out and ect. listening to this spoken word poem really stuck with me. As a Black male who finds it that the odds are stacked against him, I thank Prentice for not only having the courage to write such a powerful piece, but for going on national television and performing it. I think that any person, no matter gender, race, age, social class, or whatever can relate to this poem in some type of way. It may not strike everyone on a personal level, and if it doesn’t then I believe that it can give that person a bit of insight of what it’s like to be in another person’s shoes.

Don’t Disrespect My Ebonics

Okay guys, I have a quick rant to go on. So, earlier today I was sitting outside with a few of my friends at “The Wood”, the place on campus where most minorities hang out in between classes, and with me being comfortable in my setting I used a lot of slang. While we were there talking, laughing and gossiping, a guy politely interrupted our conversation and asked each of us what our majors were. He asked me last and when I told him that my major was mass communications, he replied, “Wow, I never would have thought. I’d think that major would discipline people to speak well since it involves so much networking and stuff.” And maybe it was the tone of his voice, but his response definitely rubbed me the wrong way. I sat up in my seat, adjusted my clothes and cleared my throat. Looking him in his eyes I told him, “The way I speak while I’m in a social setting is not the same way I speak while I’m in a business or professional setting. My major and my minor in creative writing allows me to be versatile in that way. And no matter the setting, I always speak well because the Ebonics you heard before you joining in on our conversation is another language within itself like Creole or Cajun-French. So the next time you make the conscious decision to indirectly belittle my way of speaking, I’d like to suggest that you take the time out to learn and fully comprehend my native language like you would Spanish or Japanese. Until then, we ain’t got a ner notha thing to talk bout.”

Now, I’m not sure if i took his response out of context and clapped back on him for no reason or if he truly deserved it, but either way I felt as though I should share that part of my day with you all. #rantover

 

 

“Shoot Your Shot”

This past week overhearing some freshman guys talking, I noticed that a few of them used the phrase, “Shoot your shot” a lot. After hearing it so much I finally decided to ask what it meant and where it came from. The guy I asked said he first heard the phrase in Baton Rouge and the phrase is supposedly a shortened version of the Wayne Gretzky quote, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. After talking to the group of guys for a while, I understood that the saying was more than just slang. Sometimes in life you really do have to shoot your shot.

Want to see if that new burger place is worth it? “Shoot your shot”. Is your friend worried about sliding in someone’s DM’s? Tell him or her, “Shoot your shot”. Is your gas meter on E, but you have somewhere to be?  DO NOT, “Shoot your shot”.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog about the art of the spoken word. I’ve always been fascinated with different languages, dialects, accents and how creative people can be with something as simple, yet complicated as words. I plan to share my stories and talents ranging from spoken word poetry, skits and plays to interesting sayings that people use in their everyday vocabulary. I hope you have an inspiring time here, enjoy!

(Idk why I was so serious in this photo, but here’s me.)