Visual Arguement: Power of Words

Does What We Say Have More Power Than We Realize?

“Four score and seven years ago…” “...I have a dream…” “...Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” These are positive and powerful speeches heard throughout history that ring in our ears even long after the speaker is gone. However, there is another form of wordplay just as potent, on the negative side. This form can cause psychological pain and possibly lifelong repercussions. What is it? Insults and verbal abuse. In spite of the fact that words are invisible, they still have the ability to inflict pain.

One image done by EuroRSCG Chicago for the Juvenile Protective Association (JPA) is a prime example of verbal abuse. In it, a crying child is strangled by pitch black words put together in the form of a hand. A grey background enhances the focus on the white phrase “Your Words Have Power; Use Them Wisely.” The black text shows a number of words filled with negativity as examples of verbal abuse, such as “Moron,” “Retard,” and “Freak.”

Where do we find people saying these things? We can look no further than our own schoolyards. Bullies are commonly known to spout phrases such as “Punk,” “Fatso,” and “Worthless,” as well as many of the other words creating this choking hand of insult. Many schoolchildren find themselves being called these hateful terms, which has the potential to affect their lives even through adulthood.

Another common place for phrases of this nature are our own homes. Parents may have a tendency to ignore children sometimes, or be too busy with work to be distracted by something their child has to show them. They may take a moment and go “That’s nice, sweetheart,” or “Is that all?” While these don’t at first appear to be harmful, it’s evident that the parent isn’t paying attention, and that can cause the child to wonder why her parent isn’t spending time with her, and if she’s done something wrong.

Similarly, parents may also have very high...