Communication and Language Usage
On the level of vocabulary and language usage, Bergen Evans has made some valuable comments. He stresses the importance of the nuts and bolts of vocabulary to a person in fully expressing himself. Unless it is suppressed, the colorful (if sometimes inaccurate) speech of children comes naturally. At suppertime, a four-year-old was heard to say, "I'm as hungry as a car without gas." By taking the time to listen, a parent can help a child stretch his imagination and his vocabulary at the same time. This leads to one of Evans' major points:
An increased vocabulary makes learning easier. This statement makes a lot of sense, since you can neither understand what you are reading, nor reproduce what you have learned, if you lack the vocabulary. The use of a dictionary shouldn't be a shameful sign of. not knowing something, but a positive sign of wanting to improve. The mature person will admit he doesn't know an answer, but then looks until he finds it. Teachers would much rather be given a paper using specific terms than vague generalities. Evans emphasizes that a good vocabulary goes a long way toward avoiding misunderstandings, besides adding clarity and variety to speech or writing. He even states that in addition to the simple pleasure of using a well-chosen word, yocabulary largely shapes the decisions we make. The cliche "Words fail me," is sadly often true. Most people admire the person with a good vocabulary, if it isn't accompanied by a superior attitude. Further, Evans says that the ability to increase vocabulary throughout life is a "sure reflection of intellectual progress." And, most important for our purpose, The better control we have over words, the more successful our adjustment is likely to be."
