"Blinking Words" (an MIT term) are words or phrases that take on many possible interpretations, and where definitions blink between different meanings depending upon who hears it. Ambiguities in language can lead to variation in public action.
A SIMPLE Open-to-the-Public Dialogue web project inviting the public to list ALL blinking words (surrounding specific areas of public action and public money) could make the extent of this problem visible. (Imagine a resource, all gathered from public input, that lists all ambiguous terms and contradictory definitions.)
This is a VERY simple thing to do.
For example, a public website announces the "Blinking Words Project".
For example, the first participant adds three entries as "blinking words":
"community building", "Dialogue", "engagement"
Other participants add additional interpretations to entries, or add new entries. Public discourse is an essential element.
An exploration of "Blinking words" is an excellent focus for this. Blinking words are NOT simply standard homonyms, since alternative interpretations can include unofficial definitions, sales speak, newspeak, etc.
Comments (2)
greenspringvalley
Thank you for your comment.. being a person who listens each word.. i was not aware of Blinking Words (mit) and will keep that in mind....
On your project, sounds reasonable, but i am obsorved elsewhere at this time..
( I am convinced that CLean Energy ANd Population Balance are our now future Needs of Concern and resolution.--These two are the keys to all else as a foundation)
Paul
I think the reference was "The Fifth Discipline Field Book" or "The Dance of Change". Both of these are good books, either way.
Whatever approach is taken to address the language issues, it will probably receive some opposition. If I were selling mud and calling it milk, I wouldn't be "for" any discussions about language.