In his book, “The Meaning of the Word and Other Essays”, Jacques Ellul delves into the etymology and history of words to explore their true meaning. He argues that the original meaning of a word is often lost over time, and that this loss has had a negative impact on society. For example, the word “hustle” originally meant to shake or stir. Over time, it came to mean to hurry or rush. Today, the word has taken on a negative connotation, often used to describe someone who is dishonest or shady. However, Ellul argues that the original meaning of the word was positive, and that its negative connotation is a result of its lost history. Another example is the word ‘communism’ – originally, it meant ‘community’ or ‘society’ but over time it has come to mean a system of government in which the people are controlled by the government.
Ellul argues that this change in meaning is due to the fact that the original meaning of the word was lost over time. He also argues that the meaning of words is often determined by the context in which they are used. This makes it difficult to determine the true meaning of a word when it is used in a specific context. This is why it is so difficult to understand Ellul’s work at times. However, his insights are worth the effort.
Another example is the word “liberty”, which originally meant freedom from physical restraints. However, over time it came to mean freedom from government oppression. Today, the word is often used to describe personal freedoms, such as the right to free speech or free association. Ellul argues that this shift in meaning has had a negative impact on society, as it has led to a belief that liberty is an individual right rather than a collective one. This is a problem because liberty is essential to a free society. He also points out that the negative connotations of words often arise from their misuse. For example, the word ‘terrorism’ is often used to describe acts of violence against civilians. However, this word has a negative connotation because it is used to describe a whole range of activities.
Ellul argues that it is important to be aware of the potential consequences of our words and to use them correctly.
In addition to exploring the history and meaning of words, Ellul also discusses how words can be used to control and manipulate people. He argues that political leaders and advertisers use words to control the thoughts and actions of people. For example, Ellul points out that politicians often use terms like “national security” or “public safety” to justify their actions, even when those actions violate basic civil liberties. For example, when the United States government sought to seize control of Iraq’s oil resources, it used the term ‘national security’ to justify its actions.
Advertisers also use words to manipulate people into buying products they don’t need or want. There are many examples of this type of advertising – for example, the commercials that tell people to buy products to keep their family safe are often misleading. Ellul points out that advertisers often use these types of ads to control the thoughts and actions of people. By using these words, advertisers can influence people to make decisions that may be harmful to their own interests. Let’s look at another example – the commercials that tell people to buy products to help them lose weight, or to keep their hair looking good, or to reduce their risk of heart disease. These ads are often misleading, because they don’t actually tell people what the products do. They tell people that the products will make them look or feel better. Aside from the fact that these ads aree ‘pseudo-scientific’ and often untrue, they also manipulate people into making poor decisions. They are capable of doing this because they prey on the fear and anxiety that people have about their own bodies and their health.