Writing, Words, and Silence: Your Thoughts?
June 21st 2009 01:19
A Quote That Serves Up Food for Thought for Writers
Today's Quote of the Day (in my left sidebar) says that "Silence is more eloquent than words." (Thomas Carlyle). As writers, words are the tools of our trade. What do you think of Carlyle's statement, and/or what would you say to Carlyle about his assertion if you could?
Words and Silence
Personally, I would say that there are definitely times when silence is more eloquent than words--as in those times when no words are adequate to express an emotion or when nothing we could say would ever be sufficient to respond to another person's sorrow or despair without trivializing it.
I also believe that silence can be a highly effective method for punctuating a statement and providing dramatic contrast, which can not only drive an idea home in a particularly potent manner but also encourage (and allow) a listener to really ponder it.
Of course, the above comments would apply more to verbal exchanges than written ones--though there are also many times when silence in written messages can exert a powerful (though not always unambiguous) influence.
"Silence" in Writing
We all know that not replying to something said by someone in an e-mail, letter, or comment can sometimes cause that person to question why and wonder about the significance of the omission. This type of "silence" can create serious doubts about our message's intent and sometimes even give the recipient a totally erroneous impression of what we meant to convey. This would be a negative application of silence in our written communications, which--while certainly poweful--wouldn't actually qualify as "eloquent."
In the writing arena, I also think that, in many cases, economy of words can have a similar effect to that of auditory silence in conversation. This is true in the sense that it leaves some room for individual thought, opinion formulation, and/or personal application of a concept, rather than bombarding the reader with the author's own perspective and thereby limiting the reader's engagement with the work in question. This would be a positive manifestation of written "silence" which might actually qualify for Carlyle's "eloquent" descriptor.
Another version of this type of "silence"--whether in speech or writing--would be the art of asking questions. This is because the very act of questioning implies that a period of silence will follow, during which the hearer's/reader's input will be welcome--another positive manifestation of written "silence." (Even rhetorical questions invite the hearer/reader to ponder the topic and provide the "space" for him to reach his own conclusions.)
What are your thoughts on words and silence--either from a writing or conversational perspective? You have the floor!
Thanks, in advance, for sharing your thoughts!
Jeanne
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Comment by Karen Swim
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
I agree. It's unfortunate that so often writers (and speakers) fail to see the value of silence in conveying their message more effectively. (Of course, it's an easy oversight to be guilty of.)
Thanks for sharing your insight with us!
Jeanne
Comment by Nevar
Is Why
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Jeanne
Comment by Nevar
Is Why
This one has me thinking.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
I think it can be difficult--and, as mentioned in my post, definitely subject to misinterpretation at times. But, your own method of using ellipses is one that can be effective, I think, since it implies that there's more to be said on the matter. (It might be even more effective for this purpose to place the ellipses at the end of a statement.)
Another method might be to speak tentatively, or speculatively, about a topic, as if one isn't the final authority on the matter, and then encourage feedback. That can leave enough empty "space" for others to offer valuable input.
Using "silence" in our writing may be a challenge, but I think it's a fascinating concept that's well worth the effort!
Thanks for your input!
Jeanne
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Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
That's one of the many questions we wrestle with as writers--and a difficult one to answer!
Thanks for your input!
Jeanne
Comment by Brad Shorr
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
As I headed over from my e-mail program to my blog to read your comment, I was thinking about how difficult it can be to find the time to read all the blog posts we'd like to read. Posting less often is one great way to help our readers do that.
Of course, due to circumstances beyond my control, I've had more silence here at Writer's Notes lately than I would have liked. So, at the moment, I'm attempting to make up for that. (Even so, I'm not generally posting more often than that.) But, I agree that two to three posts a week is a reasonable number. Anything more than that can really prove burdensome to our readers--not to mention to us (particularly if our posts tend to be substantial).
Thanks for sharing your insight!
Jeanne
Comment by SEOhaus
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
That's very true. Silence can be so powerful, in fact, that we have to be careful how we use it. Otherwise, it can create misunderstanding, rather than reinforcing our message.
Thanks for the visit!
Jeanne