“Whatever language we speak, before we begin a sentence we have an almost infinite choice of words to use. A, The, They, Whereas, Having, Then, To, Bison, Ignorant, Since, Winnemucca, In, It, As . . . Any word of the immense vocabulary of English may begin an English sentence. As we speak or write the sentence, each word influences the choice of the next ― its syntactical function as noun, verb, adjective, etc., its person and number if a pronoun, its tense and number as a verb, etc. ,etc. And as the sentence goes on, the choices narrow, until the last word may very likely be the only one we can use.”
Quote Analysis
In this quote by Ursula K. Le Guin, she highlights the intricacies of language and the vast array of choices available to speakers when constructing a sentence. Le Guin emphasizes the power of individual words in influencing the direction and structure of a sentence, noting that as a sentence progresses, the options for word choice become more limited. This quote underscores the importance of each word in crafting meaningful and coherent communication.
Modern Relevance:
In today's fast-paced world of communication, the power of language is more important than ever. Ursula K. Le Guin's insight into the intricate choices we make with each word in a sentence serves as a reminder of the impact and influence our words have on others. This understanding underscores the importance of mindfulness in our language use, both in face-to-face interactions and in the digital realm.
Example of Usage
In her essay, Ursula K. Le Guin illustrates the limitless possibilities of language by emphasizing the impact of word choice on sentence structure. She highlights how each word influences the next, ultimately guiding the flow and direction of the sentence.
Reflective Questions
Consider the following questions to further explore the concept of word choice and its impact on the construction of a sentence:
- How does the idea of an "infinite choice of words" at the beginning of a sentence shape your understanding of language and communication?
- In what ways do the choices made in selecting words influence the flow and structure of a sentence as it progresses?
- Reflect on a time when you found yourself struggling to choose the right words to convey a particular message. How did this experience shape your perspective on the importance of word selection?
- Do you agree with Ursula K. Le Guin's assertion that the choices in language narrow as a sentence progresses? Why or why not?
- Consider the impact of the final word in a sentence and its ability to shape the overall meaning and effectiveness of the message. How does this realization influence your own writing or speaking practices?
Similar quotes
“Hyacinth,” Lady Bridgerton said in a vaguely disapproving voice, “do try to speak in complete sentences.”Hyacinth looked at her mother with a surprised expression. “Biscuits. Are. Good.” She cocked her head to the side. “Noun. Verb. Adjective.”“Hyacinth.”“Noun. Verb. Adjective.” Colin said, wiping a crumb from his grinning face. “Sentence. Is. Correct.”
“As soon as we start putting our thoughts into words and sentences everything gets distorted, language is just no damn good—I use it because I have to, but I don’t put any trust in it. We never understand each other.”
“When we are young, the words are scattered all around us. As they are assembled by experience, so also are we, sentence by sentence, until the story takes shape.”
“Isn't language loss a good thing, because fewer languages mean easier communication among the world's people? Perhaps, but it's a bad thing in other respects. Languages differ in structure and vocabulary, in how they express causation and feelings and personal responsibility, hence in how they shape our thoughts. There's no single purpose "best" language; instead, different languages are better suited for different purposes. For instance, it may not have been an accident that Plato and Aristotle wrote in Greek, while Kant wrote in German. The grammatical particles of those two languages, plus their ease in forming compound words, may have helped make them the preeminent languages of western philosophy. Another example, familiar to all of us who studied Latin, is that highly inflected languages (ones in which word endings suffice to indicate sentence structure) can use variations of word order to convey nuances impossible with English. Our English word order is severely constrained by having to serve as the main clue to sentence structure. If English becomes a world language, that won't be because English was necessarily the best language for diplomacy.”
“Human life, Borges said, is a cascade of possible directions, and we take only one, or we perceive that we take only one—which is how novels are written, too. You start with a blank page, and the first word opens up possibilities for the second word. If your first word is Call, those second two or three could be a doctor or it could be me Ishmael. It could be Call girls on Saturday nights generally cost more than . . . The second sentence opens up a multitude of third sentences, and on we go through that denseness of choices taken and choices not taken, swinging our machetes.”