In praise of the 3-word phrase
I am as fond of short, pithy statements as the next guy. One of my favorite columns was about Rabbi Sack’s book, “The Home We Build Together: Recreating Society.” The only column I’ve written entirely on a single book, it was chock full of pithy statements (mostly his). The column had so many chocolate chips that the cookie dough barely held them together.
Craig Valentine, who is an amazing speaker and trainer, is astoundingly skillful at using three-word phrases. In a four and a half minute clip I heard: “Condense to Connect,” “A Serial Failure,” and a 3 words x 2 phrase, “don’t say everything, just say something.” As if that’s not enough, he’s equally adept at alteration: “master what you measure, what’s recorded gets rewarded, changing small and changing often.” Craig Valentine’s free 52 speaking tips are available in a weekly email at https://craigvalentine.com/52speaking-tips/ Check him out.
Leif Enger’s new novel, “Virgil Wander” had me floored by his phraseology and thumbnail character descriptions. For example: “He had the heartening bulk of the aging athlete defeated by pastry.” Enger’s first book, “Peace Like a River,” was a beautiful story of a dad and two kids, looking for a missing brother. The second book was about a best selling author trying to figure out what to write next. I’d say he didn’t quite figure that out.
This third novel, however, kept me entranced by his use of language: “Certain prodigal words started filtering home.” On page 199, I encountered, “That fact swung open and light came in.” Obviously I never was, nor would ever be a great writer. Unlike Enger’s linguistical feast, my thin words crept across the dreary page.
Fortunately, there were some flaws in the novel, which gave me the courage to keep trying. This shows that our weakness can be as encouraging to others as our strengths. You can find “Virgil Wander” in our library. For language lovers, it is worth investigating.
GALVANIZING PHRASiS
In Toastmasters, “Where
Leaders are Made,” new district leaders are encouraged to come up with a swinging focus phrase for their year in office. Groups such as Youth with a Mission also have hot phrases: “To know Him and make Him known.” Churches and other congregations play along with mission statements ranging from short and pithy such as,“Connect, Grow, Serve,” to long and convoluted. How much of leadership is dreaming up a phrase that sticks to the wall?
Unfortunately, complexity is lost in the threeword phrase. A phrase can easily become a symbol. Black Lives Matter, Make America Great, God is Dead. In the war of words, phrases are whipped around like baseball bats, and — even worse — everyone is relegated to either your side, or the other guys’ side of the line drawn in the street. This does not serve us well.
WICKED WINDS
Perhaps the nastiest use of a pithy phrase is to take something someone said, attach negative motives to the phrase, and send it forth to wreck mayhem on the speaker’s character. Although common fodder against leaders, this can happen to anybody. It has happened to me.
Cardinal Richelieu once
said, “If you give me six lines written by the most honest man, I will find something in them to hang him.” While hanging people is fortunately out of fashion, it is not uncommon for people to lose their jobs or business at the hands of an enemy armed with a few stray words. Yes, even here. Even today. When a society is rife with people attributing gross assumptions to others, when speaking freely becomes dangerous, the worst virus is unleashed. Death and decay wait in the wings.
“What then do you do when you seek not truth but power? You attack not the message but the messenger. You attempt to destroy the standing and credibility of those you oppose. You attempt to devoice your opponents.”
Rabbi Sacks.
WINSOME WORDS
We do not know the thoughts and intents of anyone’s heart, nor the life-long stories that add up to a particular and possibly momentary position. There is value in trying to understand the thoughts behind the phrase. The best way to begin is to listen in love, over a long period of time. “A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after awhile he knows something.” — Wilson Mizner.
A Good Listener. Now there’s a three-word phrase worth hanging onto, especially for those of us who think with our mouths.
End Quote: “A good listener helps us overhear ourselves.” -Yahia Lababidi.