Emotional loading of words

[SeaCat]

Lets face it, as authors we use words. Do we think about how we use them? About the emotional loading of the words we use?

Oh so you think words don't have emotional loading? Believe me they do and there is a science to it. (No I don't remember the name of the science.)

Think about it this way. You could describe a certain woman as a "Nigger Lover" and be bombed to death. On the other hand you could also say she was married to an African American and no-one other than Trolls would become upset. One phrase has heavy negative emotional loading while the other doesn't.

So how about it, do you ever think about the emotional loading of a word or a description you are using in a story?

Cat

 

[starrkers]

Definitely. The use of the right word can greatly enhance the mental picture you're trying to evoke.
Problem is, emotional loading can be cultural.

Classic example - the first couple of stories I wrote here, I used the word "knickers". Several Americans pointed out to me that the word had connotations of granny underwear. To me "panties" are granny wear. But I changed my wording to suit the greater audience.

 

[gauchecritic]

I was going to say that if you write something for others to read then you have to think about the loading of any word, phrase or sentence. But it's not necessarily true. As long as you're willing to stand by what you've written.

I'm of the opinion that a writer, in everything that they write, is delivering a part of themselves to the reader which is what makes reading an interactive experience.

All the time that you read something, anything, you are looking at it as skewed by the person that you are whilst at the same time comparing what the author is telling about themselves.

This becomes apparent when you read a book entitled 'Little Red Riding Hood' and what you come away with is 'The Paedophile in Wolf's Clothing'.

 

[jomar]

Definitely. The use of the right word can greatly enhance the mental picture you're trying to evoke.
Problem is, emotional loading can be cultural.

Classic example - the first couple of stories I wrote here, I used the word "knickers". Several Americans pointed out to me that the word had connotations of granny underwear. To me "panties" are granny wear. But I changed my wording to suit the greater audience.

Those are outstanding examples of what will inadvertently take our reader out of the story.

I was going to say that if you write something for others to read then you have to think about the loading of any word, phrase or sentence. But it's not necessarily true. As long as you're willing to stand by what you've written.

I'm of the opinion that a writer, in everything that they write, is delivering a part of themselves to the reader which is what makes reading an interactive experience.

All the time that you read something, anything, you are looking at it as skewed by the person that you are whilst at the same time comparing what the author is telling about themselves.

This becomes apparent when you read a book entitled 'Little Red Riding Hood' and what you come away with is 'The Paedophile in Wolf's Clothing'.

You're right that people project and read into things, which is why authors don't give precise physical details of characters.

But I think you should absolutely give thought to the emotional loading of each word (I'm trying to put this into practice - it's tedious) because you are trying to say something and want to be precise about it. Then, when you have thought about it and done what you do, you turn it out and stand by it. You can't be responsible for how others view it.

 

[Stella_Omega]

You are wrong, Cat-- I could not say that a woman is a "nigger lover" because she is married to a black man. That presupposes that she'd "love" any black man that happened by, as opposed to the one she's married to-- for a start. It also might say something disturbing about her fetishes, if it were true. I might have her say it, as a bitter joke, or a loving one...

I could have another character say that about her-- and that would tell us most of what we need to know about that character.

 

[oggbashan]

Locally any reference to a "red hat" on a lady would mean she went commando and was always ready for a sexual encounter.

Og

 

[christabelll]

Locally any reference to a "red hat" on a lady would mean she went commando and was always ready for a sexual encounter.

Og

Here red hat lady referes to a bunch of whacky 55 plusser women who wear outrageous red and purple and other color hats to extravagant parties and brag about their investment portfolios.....

 

[SlickTony]

Locally any reference to a "red hat" on a lady would mean she went commando and was always ready for a sexual encounter.

Og

In my part of the world, it means the woman is "of a certain age." There's actually a red Hat Society. The women wear red hats and purple outfits. I believe that "of a certain age" means "old enough to do what they damn well please."