Administrators and teachers are looking to 鈥渦p their game鈥� when addressing the 鈥渘ew normal鈥�, a new book 鈥渃leaning up their language鈥�.聽Education in all its forms is a big contributor to this newly identified form of 鈥渇owl language鈥�.
Kelowna-based author, Randy Lennon released his book聽The Dirty Words.
鈥淭hese are simple, commonly used words that create ambiguity, undermine and generally disempower us.聽 Most people, including educators, have no awareness whatsoever of their damaging effects,鈥� explained author, journalist, television and radio personality, police officer, and business leader, Randy Lennon.聽
鈥淭hese are the other dirty words and learning about their impact and inappropriate use can literally change lives.鈥�
Endorsed by a former Minister of Education in Alberta, Dr. Lyle Oberg, the book is now available through Amazon and bookstores. Savvy teachers always looking for an edge are working to eliminate these words from their vocabulary to upgrade their effectiveness and teach with more impact.
鈥淚 read articles or watch interviews laced with this language and I cringe,鈥� explained Lennon, a former special advisor to the Honourable Preston Manning (former leader of the Opposition in Canada) and former publisher of a chain of weekly newspapers.
This book demonstrates how we can sabotage ourselves with language like that and educators and parents are getting the message.
鈥淚鈥檝e had so many parents comment that this stuff should be taught in our schools,鈥� added Lennon.聽 鈥淎s pre-school and elementary students learn to read and write it would be great to delve into how simple, little words in common use are best substituted with more clear and empowering words.聽 At higher grade levels, eliminating certain words in my view is a 鈥榥o-brainer鈥�.聽 The challenge is teachers don鈥檛 learn about these 鈥渄irty words鈥� in college or university.鈥�
Amid the chaos of COVID-19, there have been many new stresses added to daily life and also many positives.聽
For Randy Lennon, the pandemic offered an opportunity to stop and reflect and get around to publishing the book he authored in 2017.聽The Dirty Words聽was inspired by a breakthrough life coaching workshop conducted since the late 90鈥檚 as a 鈥渨arm-up鈥� to聽a transformational personal development program The Questions Experience.
鈥淗undreds of people from all over the world and all walks of life have benefited from The Questions and yet based on personal feedback over the years a lot of the lasting impact has been from the light-hearted intro or warm-up where we take a look at words that disempower us and the power of the spoken word generally,鈥� added Lennon.聽
鈥淪o, I wrote the book in 2017.聽 When the pandemic hit, I was stuck at home like everyone else and I realized cooped up families could particularly benefit from this simple, yet profound examination of commonly used and yet so damaging dirty words.鈥�
The Dirty Words聽is a handbook for making minor changes in everyday language that can have tremendous positive and surprising impacts. By positioning seemingly innocuous words like 鈥渢ry, but, should, can鈥檛, have to, hope and wish鈥� alongside the 鈥淪even words you can鈥檛 say on television,鈥� the simple yet profound book empowers readers to change their language to change their lives.
