Using Natural Language

In seeking to design a scientific experiment to count or measure triggers, this poses many problems. We are back to the fluidity, subtlety and complexity so typical of experiential phenomena.

From the point of view of assisting with human endeavour, pseudo-scientific quibbling by independent observers is irrelevant. What is important is:

• the person or group knows when a trigger is needed
• someone chooses a manifestation that suits the situation, and

• all those involved and responsible agree on what to look for and what to do when triggered,

  and so on.

Search hard for the right word.

The English language, my native tongue, is so rich that it is highly unlikely that an appropriate name will ever be unavailable for our inner states, social activities and institutions.

• If you read widely around your topic of interest, you will almost invariably find the word you need.
• Sometimes a two-word name is more useful.
• Never avoid the right word just because it seems boring and won’t sell your book!

Reject neologisms.

Neologisms cut you off from reality. If a suitable word does not seem to exist, then you probably have not grasped the entity correctly, or you are playing games with yourself &/or your readers or co-workers. Perhaps you see it as branding and crucial to your marketing.

Avoid metaphors.

Metaphors are so attractive, especially if that is your natural way of writing. Many like them as it forestalls thought. But labeling things by colours (e.g. red hat, amber consciousness, green thinking) or using a biological metaphor (e.g. neuronal networking, left-brain thinking, amygdala response), avoids the hard work of naming.

Metaphors will actively mislead you or impede your developmental work. And they will certainly confuse others who will either use them too concretely, or try to extend the metaphor beyond what you intend. But I do admit: they may help sell your book.

Don’t over-abstract.

Be careful to focus on your target entity, which is concrete. Abstractions distance you from the concrete, and your mind or your listeners’ minds will start going fuzzy. On the plus side, people will think you are superior and terribly clever.

THEE is about staying close to the concrete: even if that concrete phenomenon, like «imagination», seems rather intangible at times; or like «task» just too mundane and unexciting.

Don’t over-generalize.

Avoid general terms where possible. For example, a term that applies to biological and physical states as well as to psychosocial phenomena is likely to be mysterious.

If possible, find a term that only or primarily applies to the psychosocial realm. Referring to the circulatory system of an organization may not be metaphorical, but it is primarily a term for a biological structure within animals. So, something more specific is preferable for «whatever it is that is being identified by that name».