Eloquent is the new sexy

October 25, 2013

Glenn Hetrick: Long-hair, tattoos and a literary vocabulary so big you’ll be gob-smacked.

I have noticed a scintillating trend in entertainment lately. From Glenn Hetrick, judge on Syfy Network’s TV show, Face Off, to social critic comedian, Russell Brand, there’s a new kind of sexy hitting the screen: Eloquence.

It is not board-room, corporate speak jargon, but real English. It is the use of verbs more interesting than “get” and “have”. It is sentences replete with subordinate clauses that are artfully woven together. It’s linguistic prowess at its best.

Hetrick critiques the work of make-up artists competing on a reality show. In a YouTube clip that shows Hettrick offering formative evaluations to competitors, Hetrick’s feedback succinct, precise and pithy. The summative feedback he offers at the end of every show is articulate and poignant. Unlike other TV show judges, Hetrick avoids profanity and F-bombs. He cuts straight to the heart of the matter without ever being vulgar.

Brand weaves words like “vitriolic”, “indefatigably”, and “litigious” into his interviews with anti-gay guests on his TV show, all while he mocks the infantile language shown on the placards brought in by his guests. Brand peppers his eloquence with blue collar vernacular such as, “Bloody ‘ell!” and the occasional “ain’t”.

Neither Hetrick nor Brand are Oxford-educated, wear suits or show any signs of being pompous. Instead, they are “men of the people”, with a healthy dose of rebel in them. They are raw, real and compassionate with in-your-face honesty. They go against traditional conventions in terms of their image. Sporting tattoos and long hair, both have an air of being unapologetically subversive. These men exude sexiness because they know who they are and what they stand for.

One thing they stand for is eloquence. Not only do they consistently use proper grammar, they both have the ability to create verbally majestic sentences when they speak. Their language is lyrical and fluid, flowing naturally from one phrase to the next. Their delivery is powerful and compelling. We listen to them and we want to hear more.

I am fascinated by these examples of linguistic elegance. That kind of loquacity takes years to develop. Their language is a cultivated as any Ph.D., but without any hint of being pretentious.

There’s a new kind of sexy on the screen. It is man with a staggeringly large vocabulary — who knows how to wield it.

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Update – January 2018 – This blog has had over 1.8 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Sarah Elaine Eaton is a faculty member in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada.

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Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

Ever noticed how frustrating “just” can be?

April 12, 2012

I’ve been noticing the use of the word “just” in conversations lately. Here are some examples:

“I just wanted to get this off my chest…” (Meaning: What I am about to say is pretty much guaranteed to upset you, but it will make me feel better and that is really what matters to me.)

“How about we just have a conversation at the meeting, rather than have an agenda?” (Meaning: I don’t really want to take control of this meeting, with four alpha personalities… and besides, I am too lazy. I prefer mayhem. Oh, and by the way, this only a rhetorical question. I do not particularly care what you think.)

“I was just feeling a little…” (Meaning: I am overwhelmed by these feelings, to the point of near collapse, but I do not want to admit weakness, so I use the word “just” to indicate that I am much saner than I might be diagnosed…)

“I just want to get on with it!” (Meaning: I am not really interested in your feelings. Shut the heck up and let’s do our job.”)

Dictionary.com defines the word “just” in these ways:

Just  [juhst]
adjective

  1. guided by truth, reason, justice and fairness: We hope to be just in our understanding of such difficult situations.
  2. done or made according to principle; equitable; proper: a just reply.
  3. based on right; rightful; lawful: a just claim.
  4. in keeping with truth or fact; true; correct: a just analysis.
  5. given or awarded rightly; deserved, as a sentence, punishment, or reward: a just penalty.

adverb

  1. within a brief preceding time; but a moment before: The sun just came out.
  2. exactly or precisely: This is just what I mean
  3. by a narrow margin; barely: The arrow just missed the mark.
  4. only or merely: He was just a clerk until he became ambitious.
  5. actually; really; positively: The weather is just glorious.

I am guessing that when “just” is used in the examples above, it is either intended to mean “only or merely”. The sub-text seems to often indicate a deeper meaning that is often rooted in frustration, fear or anxiety. I have begun to wonder why we don’t talk about the sub-text?

Lately, I admit that I have been frustrated by the use of the word “just” in conversation, particularly when it is preceded with the word “I” or “we”.  Sometimes, the word “just” indicates a distinct lack of interest in what the other person is feeling or thinking and centers the conversation around the speaker’s wants and desires.

Sometimes, there is much more going on… There’s a difficult conversation to be had. Often, the conversation is worthwhile and valuable… but it is more difficult, so we avoid digging deeper and engaging one another in a dialogue that calls for deep listening, empathy, negotiation and ultimately, finding solutions to whatever the problem might be.

Take a moment this week to notice how “just” is used in conversation around you. What is the person really saying?

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Update – January 2018 – This blog has had over 1.8 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Sarah Elaine Eaton is a faculty member in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada.

2 Comments | languages, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.