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
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
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