[Procyona]

In Japanese tradition there is a strong believe that use of words and especially names can affect the environment and the person itself.
This believe is called kotodama, literally translated to "word spirit/soul".

There is indeed a difference if I name my working partner partner or opponent, and the like. But the extreme believe means, that I can name a base ball bat to a steel cutting sword, and cut through steel with it. Or that If I know someones name I have power over him or her.

To me the extremes sound like a fairy tail. I cannot see how they could work out. But what do you think, forum participants? Could it be possible in some sense to alter the world with words only? Thank you in advance   

[Haveunique]

I think words are a powerful tool if they are used with awareness. It's also important that others understand what we say. This means we should express ourselves so that we are understood easily. Simple language is a sign of good knowledge of a subject and also a well-structured mind. Complicated sentences speak for themselves

So why not name things for what they are? If you call someone next to you a partner, it means you want to collaborate. Positive thoughts are proven to make one feel better, especially if connected with positive actions. And so on...   

[Gra-ach]

I guess with words you can warp someone's idea of an object so completely that (s)he will believe that your baseball bat is a steel sword and since brain is a very complicated thing it can react to the blow from the bat as if it was from sword. There are many inexplicable things about our cognitive system...

So it's always better to use appropriate words, that convey what exactly you want to say. Or use the words that have more or less the same meaning to you and the person you're talking to. And with words you can change your attitude to something or someone.   

[Procyona]

[Procyona]

[Gra-ach]

Talking about feeling the right words... And how we decide which word is correct or right in the context...

I caught myself the other day when I wanted to express something that I do know that I know the word I want to use but I don't remember which language is it. It was strange, because we were talking in Russian and the word I was trying to remember turned out to be in English. But talking about words... My idea of how we chose them:

We hear people talking, TV, radio, we're reading books. And when we know the language on more or less good level, we subconciously remember phrases and situations in which they are used. So whenever we're in the same situation (or we think it's the same) these words we heard/read come to the forefront. On the other side, there are situations (at least it happens to me) that I remember the general idea of how the word is pronounced and that it means what I want to convey, but I don't remember the exact way to say/spell it. And in this situation I either use synonims (which may not be the best to describe what I want to say) or I some other completely different word (which may have absolutely nothing to do whith what I wanted to say but sound alike). So things happen. And sometimes they end up hilarious.

So I agree about feeling your words. If they feel right, it means that you were in the alike situation when this word was used.   

[Procyona]

Good points Irene.

I remember some cases where I have used foreign language and without thinking of what words to use, the right ones have popped up when I needed them. Even though I did not know I knew them. Sometimes I even need to check them from the dictionary to be sure. But I guess they come from the subconscious, like you said Irene - I have just heard/seen them somewhere before.   

[Gra-ach]