Samuel Seibert

 
 

Just as sounds string together to form words, words string together to form ideas. 

 

If you learn a new word that contains an idea you never heard before, will you think thoughts that you’ve never pondered before?

 

There are words in other, non-English languages that contain complex ideas and are not easily translated into American English. My curiosity, and desire to know what words I was missing, drew me to, They Have a Word for It by Howard Rheingold.

 

If I introduce myself to words from other languages, I will gain the ability to consider new ideas, think differently, express myself in a more descriptive way, and take a fresh path in life.

 
This is much more than just trying to have a bigger vocabulary to say my current thoughts in larger and more flowery language. The point is to change your world view. That’s what drew me into this book.

  

I chose three words from the book, to provide a taste.

Hopefully they will intrigue you so much that you consider reading the book for yourself. Here are three of my favorite new words:

 

The three words are:

• orenda (oar-END-uh) p. 60
• wabi (rhyms with Bobby) p.95
• lagniappe (lan-YAP) p.133

 

Orenda (oar-END-uh)

 

     Orenda is from the Huron Native Americans of the Northeast United States. It means the power of voice focused will. Consider this word to be the opposite of an idea like kismet. In the book the anthropologist R. R. Marret describes this word as a bittersweet blend of fear, hope and humility.

 

     I like to think of this word as being the opposition against when people try to foist statements on to us of the kind, “well whatever will be will be”, “that’s just how things always are”, “you know that’s just how we do things around here”.

 

     Orenda reminds me to be encouraged, and know that I can make things happen; that I can voice my focused will against a specific fate. This is especially useful when others try to pass their passive, “fate-filledness” onto me. This isn’t bravado, used to dismiss others as they offer you words of wisdom; it is an act is done in humility- listening to what others have to say, but still standing in confidence.

 

Wabi (rhymes with Bobby)

 

I love this word!

 

     It comes from Japanese, and describes a “flawed detail that creates an elegant whole.” The example the book gives is of an old teacup that has a slight crack up its side. While some might dismiss this as an old broken teacup, we are informed that the flaws,( paraphrase) ‘distinguishes the spirit of the moment in which the object was created from all other moments in eternity.’

 

     This word challenges me because I have a great appreciation for the slick and the new. For the most recent and fastest gadgets. Furniture that is modern, sleek, and symmetrical. This word wabi reminds me that the dings and the cracks that we get while going through life actually increase our value. Each of our scars is a memory, and each scratch is from a unique moment in time.

 

     Your coffee table that has gotten lots of dents is not worn down. Wabi expresses that your coffee table has become more beautiful as it has accumulated visible representations of the memories made in your home.

 

Lagniappe (lan-YAP)

 

     The last word has a French / Creole origin. It contains the idea of an unexpected gift to a stranger or customer. I first came across this word when reading a book by Roy H. Williams. Roy set up a specific scene in a grocery: Let’s say you asked for three pounds of potatoes and a grocer began loading up the potatoes on the scale. After he measured up to three pounds, he would take one extra potato and toss it on the pile and exclaim, “Lagniappe!”
 
     The idea is, in business, we do more than just what we are contractually obligated to do. Rather, we go above and beyond, offering an unexpected gift. A surprise! Something extra.  A bonus!

 

     When somebody does work with you they know that you are more than just a person of your word. They know you are a generous business person. It’s much more than setting up a loyalty/ rewards program with the customer, this generosity gives surprise and delight to the customer.
 
      Personally, it sets us up to have attitude of generosity throughout all our business dealings and not just on a corporate community service day.

 

Overall

 

     I really enjoyed reading through, They Have a Word for It . I heard a new phrase to describe my love for this sort of book, a Word Nerd! It has so many more words and phrases that I don’t have time to go into detail here. They will definitely not just expand your vocabulary, but expand your thinking.

I hope you take time to check it out.

 

-SRS

 

Disclaimer: The Amazon links used in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through the Amazon links and buy the book, it does NOT cost you anything extra but Amazon does send me a tiny % as a thank you.

If you found this helpful, and do decide to get the book, please purchase it through one of the links here.

Thanks ^_^