Language and the overuse of adjectives

Earlier this week, prior to boarding a flight to Dallas the American Airlines staff member made an announcement about the flight and made the comment to all passengers in the boarding area that the flight was “really full”. It is a phrase I have heard said many times; describing a condition with the wasteful use of an adjective. Let’s be clear, the flight is either full or it isn’t. Right?

I realize I am a logical person and every day I deal in absolutes. My concern is that as a society we overuse words and thereby reduce the efficiency of our language. Have you heard someone say “that was really really awesome” or “OMG, that was amazing and so rediciously sensational.” Well maybe the last one is a long shot. Oh, and don’t get me started on the overuse of the word ‘like’.

Speaking of the word awesome, take six minutes out of your day and check out this TED talk by Jill Shargaa on language and the use of the word “awesome” (Jill Shargaa: Please, please, people. Let’s put the ‘awe’ back in ‘awesome’). It is a funny talk (yes really) and it epitomizes how we choose the wrong words and over emphasize words when they are unnecessary.

A plane is either going to be full or not full. All seats are taken taken or empty. Language is such an important tool to communicate and we have become inefficient in the way we go about it.

Note: I have said this before however always worth a mention … we disembark a plane not deplane a plane.