Words

A word is a unit of language that people who speak the language can refer to as a separate and specific unit of meaning. Languages are made up of words. You must like words since you are here, on this word site.

You must have heard people say, “I gave my word to sister Matilda.” or “Word is that the restaurant is a great one.” When you give your word you are actually making a promise to someone, like a pledge. And if you share a word about something, you are actually giving out your opinion about it. If your friend asks if she looks fat or funny, you may want to word your response with utter care to watch your words. So you can see how a word can take many meanings and forms. Let’s dissect the word more.

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Defining the Word

In a unit of people who speak the language, one can identify “words are the blocks from which sentences are made” Example: “he hardly said ten words all morning”

Types of Words

• A word is a language unit or a linguistic unit: messages or meaning are described in words. A great professor of mine once described a word as a unit of language in which many words collide to give out a message. So, he said that when we have the privilege of such words, why use long sentences to express ourselves?
• A word is a brief statement in itself: a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc. “He didn’t say a word about it.”
• A word is a verbal command for an action: Now this could be a command that needs to be obeyed or a prayer or something as significant as when Albus Dumbledore realizes that Snape still held Lily as a dear one to him years after her demise and Snape says one word that still rings through ever Harry Potter fanatics heart. With dead truth in his eyes, he says, “Always.”

“Charge!” Yelled the commander to his battalion.  A word is used to show the exchange of views on some topic. In other words a discussion or a give-and-take. “We had a word or two about it.”

More Types of Words

So Language is divided into oral communication, speech, speech communication, spoken communication, spoken language, voice communication. Let’s see a few examples where language comes into play.

• Giving a promise- “She gave her word.” It is something like a parole, a word of honor.
• A word could also be a phrase known only to a specific group- countersign, parole, password, watchword. These words mean the same thing – evidence proving that you are who you say you are; evidence establishing that you are among the group of people already known to the system; recognition by the system leads to acceptance

A word is a string of bits stored in computer memory “large computers use words up to 64 bits long”. We use words to articulate, formulate sentences. Words give voice to a phrase, give expressions to a phrase.

Solved Question for You

1. as much
2. amazingly
3. more or less
4. relatively
5. at least

Solution: C. More or less. Roughly means approximately or more or less.