Words of creation

Language shapes even creates, experience. Putting something into words brings it into existence.

Frank Cioffi, One Day in the Life of the English Language

Those words from Frank Cioffi may sound outlandish at first, but think about them for a minute.

The Declaration of Independence created the United States, although there was also a bit of war involved. The Constitution, just words on paper, created the government that nearly 250 years later continues to guide the country's path. The laws written by Congress and other governmental bodies control our lives.

Marriages are created by repeating two simple words: "I do." A marriage is a legal thing, a physical thing, a spiritual thing. Words also end marriages.

Friendships are formed and also ended with mere words. Words do shape and create experience.

Cioffi's idea is also a biblical one. Genesis tells us that God created the universe and everything in it with mere words. "In the beginning was the Word," wrote John.

Cioffi's book is about language usage, and his final point is this: If words are this important, we had better try to use them clearly and correctly.