Words do not only describe reality
Words are not passive tools. They are not merely reflections of a world that exists independently of them.
They co-create this world.
Every sentence spoken, every signature, every narrative – it is an act of giving meaning.
It’s a choice. And that choice, even when it seems neutral, never is.
Words have the power to act
- They include – they give space, recognition, visibility.
- They exclude – they take away their voice, marginalize them, push them to the periphery.
- They sanction something – they give it the status of a norm, they make it “natural”.
- They devalue – they diminish the importance, take away value and dignity.
How we talk about people, phenomena or events influences how they are perceived –
and consequently, how they are treated.
Even without intending to
You don’t need intention for words to work.
Language carries history, context and hidden assumptions.
By repeating certain patterns, we reinforce them – often unconsciously.
Therefore, mindfulness in language is not a limitation.
It isa tool of agency.
Because words are action
We do not just describe the world.
We name it – and by naming it, we shape it.