Writing, writer, such simple
words but without these two insignificant little words our world would indeed
be desolate. There would be no books. Nothing would ever have been recorded on
Science, Physics, Astronomy, Astrology, Biology, and History. There would be no
theatre, movies, television shows or the local school performances. We would never have heard of Mozart, Beethoven,
Led Zeppelin or Tenacious D. The immortal words of Plato, Shakespeare, Tolkien,
Douglas Adams or Markus Zusak would not exist. “I have a dream” would be just that, a dream and not the speech
that defines a generation. No painting
would ever have made it to a canvas. Without those who weave magic from words thus
creating our realm, our loves, and our hates, life would be devoid of all knowledge,
expression and beauty. Wordsmiths simply create.
Valentine’s Day is on Thursday
and the lovers of the world will ponder over those special words that express
the level of devotion and adoration they feel for their mate. Florist cards
will be scribbled on, crumpled and new ones started until the verses are flawless.
For this one day the world is filled with poets, writers all needful of words. It is not until such an occasion does the
average person have any idea of what the life of a writer is like. It is not
all glamour, book-signing, movie deals and the high life. It is brutal discovering
just the exact word, the proper turn of phrase, and attaining it can be
murderous. Most of those who penned that book you just finished gave up a
considerable portion of their life to bring you that tale. Words require love and passion but also dedication.
What fashioned the very words you use to win your fair love? Let us look at the
late, great Mr W Shakespeare of England.
William Shakespeare was most probably
our greatest wordsmith and the English language owes a great debt to him. Will invented
over 1700 of our common words by connecting words never before used together or
devising words wholly unique. Below is a
list of a few of these words. At the end of this blog I have added a link if
you would like to see the full list.
Monumental
|
Addiction
|
Savagery
|
Amazement
|
Arouse
|
Assassination
|
Bedroom
|
Tranquil
|
Bloodstained
|
Barefaced
|
Blushing
|
Champion
|
Cold-Blooded
|
Compromise
|
Discontent
|
Dishearten
|
Courtship
|
Hobnob
|
Deafening
|
Lacklustre
|
Fashionable
|
Gossip
|
Madcap
|
Undress
|
Moonbeam
|
William Shakespeare not content with
adding words he also devised numerous phrases, still in everyday use. The Barb
was a genius, and even though every English student the world over cringers at
the mention of his name, the rest of us should thank him daily. These are just
a sample and as with the words, I have selected ones that I think are the most
commonly used. We all have heard, read or used more than one of these expressions.
- A fool's paradise
- A foregone conclusion
- A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse
- A sea change
- A sorry sight
- All corners of the world
- All of a sudden
- All that glitters is not gold
- All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players
- All's well that ends well
- And thereby hangs a tale
- As cold as any stone
- As dead as a doornail
- As pure as the driven snow
- Beware the ides of March
- Come what come may
- Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war
- Discretion is the better part of valour
- Eaten out of house and home
- Et tu, Brute
- Even at the turning of the tide
- Exceedingly well read
- Fair play
- Fancy free
- Fie, foh, and fum, I smell the blood of a British man
- Fight fire with fire
- Foul play
- Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears
- Good riddance
- Green eyed monster
- He will give the Devil his due
- Heart's content
- High time
- Hot-blooded
- I have not slept one wink
- I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
- In a pickle
- In stitches
- In the twinkling of an eye
- Is this a dagger which I see before me?
- Lie low
- Lily-livered
- Love is blind
- Make your hair stand on end
- Milk of human kindness
- More fool you
- Neither a borrower nor a lender be
- Night owl
- Off with his head
- Star crossed lovers
- The course of true love never did run smooth
- The game is up
- Thereby hangs a tale
- This is the short and the long of it
- To be or not to be, that is the question
- Too much of a good thing
- Truth will out
- Up in arms
- Vanish into thin air
- We have seen better days
- Wear your heart on your sleeve
- Wild goose chase
- Woe is me
- Out of the jaws of death
- Pound of flesh
- Rhyme nor reason
- Shuffle off this mortal coil
- Send him packing
- Set your teeth on edge
Yes, our language would
be very mediocre were it not for the imagination and creativity of Shakespeare.
Now while many of those wretched
fools who have selected words as their love and passion, will never lay claim
to aspire to the greatness of Shakespeare (believe me, we all do) we endeavour
to create the same magic that he did. Next time you are at the movies, spare a
moment for the script-writer; as you giggle your way through a humorous piece
in the Sunday paper, think of the reporter; when you loan that book to you friend
to read, mention the brilliance of the author.
Writers and words create
our world and can construct any realm.
Without words there is no learning,
communication, and beauty.
Words are the corner stone of any and all civilisations.
Image: Power of Words by Antonio Litterio.jpg
