by Julie Gray

Created on: February 02, 2008

Some months ago, I went to the dentist who solemnly examined my x-rays, bibbed me and got out the novocaine. Several sharp jabs into my tender gums later, he paused. Looked at the x-ray again. Consulted hurriedly with the nurse. Oh dear - seems he numbed the wrong side of my mouth. Whoops. In fact, ah geez, let's look at this x-ray again - there's no cavity to fill! Ohhhh drat. Didn't proceed with care, caution and precision. You wouldn't wield a sharp, stainless steel instrument or long needle clumsily, would you?

Words bear a lot in common with a sharp instrument. Words can cut, words can get straight to the heart of the matter, words can make nations clash and war or lovers swoon. Words can also get you into trouble at the bagel shop.

The other day, I took a coupon for 50% off up to two dozen bagels to the bagel shop in my neighborhood. I ordered one dozen bagels. The clerk looked at my coupon, puzzled. No, she said. You have to get two dozen to use this coupon. It says up to two dozen, I pointed out. She shook her head. No, that means you have to GET two dozen. No, it means I couldn't get two and a half or three dozen, but I can get anything UNDER two dozen. The manager had to be called in to resolve the matter.

I find it a matter of great curiosity that in the Information Age, fewer and fewer people take the time and trouble to use the language well. More and more, computers are part of our lives, as are cell phones, Ipods and countless other gadgets. Why, the number one top selling novel in Japan right now was written on a cell phone. I'm all for change without it we have ceased to evolve as a culture. I'll even go out on a limb and posit - no it's not even a posit, it's a fact that the consumption of literary novels is on the wane. Things move differently now, faster, more visually. We download, upload and scan information quickly.

But no matter how truncated and evolved our methods of communication become, both at work and at play (who doesn't know what lol means?) good communication skills are still the bedrock mechanism for all of our doings.

In day-to-day life, as you discuss your feelings with your therapist, the directions with a clerk, the crime to a policeman or the flight you need to board at the airport, language and the proper use of it is your friend.

My uncle lives in a rural area where language usage has taken the ol' back door slide. You know, things like "I don't got none." Or "It don't matter." A number of years ago, my son, now almost 17,

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