Words

Gaylord Fosdick gave a good program today on words and the problems with use of words.

Translation to and from languages can result in a change of meaning.

What makes it all the more difficult is when someone uses a word that has a connotation to the speaker that is different from that of the hearer. I remember one time in a Baptist church I intentionally made the statement that maybe we should have a catechism class. Immediately everyone became upset because they viewed that catechism is a Roman Catholic concept. I explained that catechism is a method of teaching that is done with questions and answers. While the word catechism usually refers to the teaching of religious doctrine of any church, the catechism method is used for teaching any subject religious or secular.

The program was a good reminder that we need to expand our vocabularies and to think of the way that a listener might construe something we say.

David Sneed

Jack Elam

Jack Elam was an actor who was in more than 50 westerns as well as other movies such as Cannonball Run where he played the doctor. 

Elam classified the stages of a moderately successful actor's life, as defined by the way a film director refers to the actor suggested for a part. (He said this on a George Plimpton ABC documentary about the making of Rio Lobo.) This humorous quote has also been attributed to other actors and writers, such as Harvey Miller, Ricardo Montalban and Mary Astor:

Stage 1: "Who is Jack Elam?"

Stage 2: "Get me Jack Elam."

Stage 3: "I want a Jack Elam type."

Stage 4: "I want a younger Jack Elam."

Stage 5: "Who is Jack Elam?"

I remember in my early career days the word was "Be nice to everyone you meet. You never know who you will pass on your way down."

David Sneed