“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me,” goes the childhood retort. Yet words are the primary tools we have with which to communicate. And many of us have fallen into the habit of using a descriptive adjective or qualifier before the person which stereotypes … a homeless person, an autistic child, a yes man. Instead, the person should come first, i.e. a person who finds himself in a homeless situation, a child with autism, a person who always agrees with superiors, mainly in order to gain their approval.
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In her blog on the subject of People First, Elise Romans opines, “words have a reach beyond their limited definitions. Words have a reach in the interactive and human sense. Every word has a value, every word has a purpose and every word has an unintended outcome. It is important that we understand the true nature and power of words. It is why we are always admonished to think before we speak.”
Understanding of the power of words is about respect. Respect for the society in which we live and for the people of whom we speak.
An author once penned, “The tongue has no bones but its strong enough to break a heart. So be careful with your words.”