VIVE LA EVOLUTION

I am a trilingual copywriter and songwriter. Language has always fascinated me and has long been a fulfilling outlet for self-expression and identity; it is one of the most effective exhibitions of one’s character. I have manipulated language to my personal and professional advantage, and I aim to continue doing so. A wicked vocabulary or signature voice is only an early pitstop on the personal journey into the world of words. For example, a sense of play can be created through sound. Just as importantly, a word can be made far more resonant through its individual origin story. 

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Phil Gull’s talk on etymology spoke to me, figuratively as well as literally. The study of words and their histories is grounding and offers a useful benchmark for understanding human development. I have always believed in the power of mythology, and I see etymology as a form of it. Although etymology is primarily considered historical, history and myth are never too far apart. Myths give meaning to otherwise mundane realities. They inspire, comfort, and bind us. Words are no different. Each one carries its own miniature myth: a journey, a transformation, a legacy. If myths can create catharsis for individuals and societies, then imbuing your language with mythology can do the same. As communicators, we have the instinct to tap into these hidden stories, to make writing more powerful. 

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Take nostalgia. The word was originally a medical diagnosis for Greek soldiers suffering from homesickness. Today, we use it to describe emotional longing, still leaning on its reference to pain, yet outgrowing the context of war. When we yearn for the good old days, we borrow the same dismay once felt by warriors for whom home was but a distant memory. Understanding where words come from - historically, culturally, emotionally - gives them meaning and turns us into myth makers.

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