THE MIND FACTORY

I think most people would be surprised when they discover what types of knowledge--in the opinion of some elements in our society--qualify as dangerous thoughts.  To begin with, there are certain ideas, which are essential to securing a true understanding of language and the meanings within language; for example, the concept of " taking-words-for-granted ".  The concept has been used formally to express the fact that the average person reads and rarely looks up words he/she does not know the meanings of, and rarely reviews words he/she claim to be familiar with (Hayakawa, 1941).  Not establishing--and as needed reviewing--the correct meanings of words as we learn to read would be all right I guess, if it were not for the fact that most people who practice these lazy habits never develop very marketable formal skills.  Moreover, the lack of refinement in writing and verbal communication skills--on the part of those who practice these non-productive habits...will inevitably become very conspicuous.  Witness, for example, the individual who one is likely to have encountered whose speech is very stilted.  They want to appear to know lots of words, but they typically misuse many of them.  Words are like anything else of value.  If one is not willing either to do what it takes to learn words in general or to do what it takes to acquire the appropriate common aplomb associated with “ ten dollar “ word usage and maintain the aplomb, he/she might as well leave well enough alone.  The notion of an individual needing to possess an attitude in favor of valuing the mastery of the language should apply as well and equally to whether one typically uses a lot of professional jargon, colloquialisms, popular slang or even invectives...curse words.  Since language is our principal mode of communicating when using language one should use whichever of the above forms...or combination of the forms--one uses most and use that language form well.  I am certainly not suggesting one should make a routine of using a lot of invectives.  Yet, at the very least, common sense would suggest one avoid trivializing any of the various forms of language.  Otherwise, one serves the best in language’s usage no good purpose, and one cheapens what the experience-forged words of language are designed to do.  That is, to provide us with the conceptual machinery pertinent to our successfully making a way for ourselves in society in regard to both the emotional, practical, and the intellectual affairs of life.  For those individual readers of this book who, while in the process of reading it are taking-the-words-for-granted...along with taking the endnotes and the references for granted--, much of what I am hoping for you to accomplish in reading my book will be lost on you.