Reading the psychology behind our words

MIND Matters expert John Malouff from UNE explains why people say certain words.

I once worked for a nice fellow who often used the word “flag". 

He “flagged” this and “flagged” that and commented that others had “flagged” something or other. He used the word to mean many things.

I never knew which meaning he was applying in a particular statement. 

Another former supervisor of mine used the word “absolutely" every time she agreed with something. 

A person I just read about uses the word “iteration" many times a day. 

I'll bet you rarely, if ever, use these words.

Words that are used far more often by one individual than by others are sometimes called signature, or fingerprint, words.

I tried to think of what my signature words are, but we are often not aware of our own. A friend pointed out that I say “jeepers" frequently. 

I denied it until I caught myself using this expression of surprise, used also by Jimmy Olsen in Superman, several times the next day. 

I then realised I also use the word “tinkle" to mean urinate. 

When I make a mistake, I often say “shucks”. 

If you are in an Armidale grocery store some day and hear a whistle, that will probably be my signature whistle, as I try to locate a family member. 

The whistle has three notes and sounds a bit like “Where are you?”

Copying can occur with signature words, if the words are appealing in some way. 

For a while when I was young, I copied a friend who said “ain’t it” to indicate agreement with someone else’s statement. 

I just liked the sound of that. No one has ever copied my signature words, my words are clunkers.

Why do I use some particular words more than other individuals do? 

I have no explanation based on reason. 

If we move to the unconscious realm, an appealing realm for me as a psychologist, I might speculate that I have a child-like view of life. 

I ask myself, do I want to talk like a cartoon character? Sure, why not? 

However, I would like to add variety to my word options when surprised, something I can alternate with “jeepers". 

To break my habit, I may have to switch to a word that starts with the same j sound. 

“Jumping Jehoshaphat"? I might be going in the wrong direction there.

To help you determine what words you use more than just about anyone else on the planet, ask people who spend lots of time with you, they know your signature words. 

What does your use of those particular words say about you?

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