Chosen Words

The American English language continues to evolve to keep pace with our society's needs and technologies. We all use words as tools for connecting with other individuals and groups. As a young mom I asked my son to sweep the sidewalk. He was confused, so I suggested he take the broom and "broom" the sidewalk--which he did. Over the years, that expression remained part of the family lexicon. "Broom" joined waugan (water), ped-e-stare-i-an (pedestrian), pen-in-the-as (pain in the a--), and chevby (heavy). Afterall, many groups of people working under the same roof or in the same industry have a special language that they all understand and use: jargon. When my son was in high school, he and several friends entered the kitchen. "Mom, tell them that you can broom a sidewalk. They say 'broom' is not the correct word." My reply was "Oh, Honey, I am so sorry!" His friends laughed. Years later, my son became a superb concrete finisher and stone mason. Quite a craftsman. He can polish-finish an industrial concrete floor in a multilevel building structure, and he can broom a driveway or sidewalk or patio. You see, one kind of finish is a broom finish that is created with a broad-head broom. By the way, "concrete" (not "cement")is the product resulting from mixing cement (a bonding agent), sand, aggregate, and water. Another clarification: construction workers "pour" concrete while engineers and architects "place" concrete. The selected words demonstrate the preferred perspective: "pour" denotes more water in the mixture which makes it easier to move into place and "place" denotes less water to make the mixture strong and durable. Also, attorneys who advise those construction and engineering professionals warn them against using "expertise," preferring "experience." Apparently, in litigation, "expertise" can cost them a higher settlement with a dissatisfied client. The nuances of language serve specific and peculiar purposes. Choose your words carefully!