“In the beginning it was appealing, and now it is unsettling. It looked like a pastime, but it was actually a pathway to something that you can’t say no to anymore — and Joshua says, “Look this is the danger of looking around” . . . .
Isn’t it true — come on – come one — Isn’t it true that you would like to go back and un-see some things. Arent’ there somethings you wish you’d never seen. Aren’t there some things — come one — and I’m not even just talking about people — just things — some of you are driving somethings you wish you’ve never seen . . . . don’t you wish you never sat in their car — never visited their home — don’t you wish that when you saw her . . . . things we could un-see . . . . if you could go back to just being 21 or 25 or 35 or however old you were — and just un-see it – un-see him – unsee her — your life may be different — in a similar way — don’t we all have some people we could un-meet . . . . I wish I had never met him . . . . I wish I had un-friended”
— Andy Stanley Right in the Eye: Good at Looking
As I was listening to Andy Stanley preach, I realized that he had caught my ears with these unique and different “un-words.” He changed-up the way he framed the point he was making.
Now, we could make the same statements using a very predictable and typical format.
“Aren’t there some . . . .
- places you wish you had not gone,
- people you wish you had not met,
- things you wish you had not done,
- relationships you would like to have never started
- decisions you would like to have decided differently
- friends you would have been better to never become friends with
- events that you attended which you now understand would have been better to never have participated in.
- etc.”
In the typical format, the audience is almost finishing the sentence in their minds. However, changing-up the way we say something gives variety and color to a point which we could have made in the expected and typical format.
More specifically, Andy Stanley takes the verbs — “see” “meet” “befriend” and adds the prefix to the verb. We could adapt this and add some more “un-verbs” to the list.
Aren’t there some . . . .
- places you wish you could un-go
- people you wish you could un-meet
- things you wish you could un-do
- you related to and you would like to un-relate
- activities you attended that you would like to un-attend
- decisions you would like to un-decide
- friends you wish you could un-friend.
- events you participated in which you wish were un-participate
- things you have seen you wish you could un-see
- things heard and wish you could un-hear
- you could unsee — un-see it — un-see him — un-see her
Now, let’s move to another step beyond this particular “un” example. What is being done is the using of established “prefix meanings.” Certain prefixes are understood to carry a certain meaning. When added to a word, they carry-over that general meaning to that word. Here are some of the most common prefixes . . . .
- anti- against /antifreeze
- de- opposite /defrost
- dis- not, opposite of /disagree
- en, em- cause to encode /embrace
- fore- before /forecast
- in- not /injustice,
- in, im, il, ir- not /injustice, impossible. ill-equipped, irresponsible
- inter- between /interact
- mid- middle /midway
- mis- wrongly /misfire
- non- not /nonsense
- over- over /overlook
- pre- before /predawn
- re- again /return
- semi- half /semicircle
- sub- under /submarine
- super- above /superstar
- trans- across /transport
- un- not /unfriendly
- under- under /undersea*
(dis, in-im-il-ir, un & re — composed 95% of all the prefix usage)**
Now, a speaker can use these prefixes to change-up the way he frames an idea. By playing with a prefix, one can . . . .
- composing a list of “un’s” or “super’s” or “under’s” etc
- change-up a single word for grabbing the attention of an idea or concept
- use the prefix in the stating all of the main points
- creating a word which is part of the Big Idea, and make that Big Idea a little stickier
As stated earlier, the art of public speaking takes work. At times a speaker may play with the phrasing of an idea only to abandon the endeavor. It is just not gelling. However, whether it works or not at any a particular time, it develops one’s ability to play with words for other occasions.
Well, let’s give it a try!
Let’s change-up the way we talk about a particular subject. That is the goal!
Verbs: say / fight / begin / attempt / switch / substitute / plan / bury
Prefix: “re” – again
Combined: re-say / re-fight / re-begin / re-attempt / re-switch / re-substitute / re-plan / re-bury
Are there times when you had the opportunity to make a difference and to make that difference you knew that you would have had to . . . .
- re-say it a better way, or
- re-fight an old battle, or
- re-begin that relationship, or
- re-substitute a better option.
Now, there are also actual “re” words that could have been used (re-store / re-think / revise / re-visit / re-make / re-do / re-invest / re-build). You can go to most any dictionary and look up words that start with that prefix.**
But beyond that, you can create some other words to change-it-up and . . . .
- say it a different way
- catch the minds and ears of the audience
- create a different imagery / picture.
Let’s try it with nouns. If you were preaching or teaching about . . . . spiritual gifts . . . .
God has given gifts to His children to edify the church and His people. Some others may have this ability, but you have been given a supernatural allotment. You have been given . . .
- super-mercy
- super-discernment
- super-administration
- super-giving
- super-helps
How about beginning with a prefix: “Trans.”
Begin with adding “trans” to some words and then think about how that could be applied to a biblical concept and/or person.
- trans-placement
- trans-refer
- trans-position
- trans-assign
- trans-role
- trans-utilize
- trans-settle
- trans-assign
- trans-capitalize
- trans-replicate
God wants you to get through to the other side. He doesn’t just move people to a different place — a different location. Like Daniel, His aim is to not only to transport you, to transfer you, but to . . .
- trans-position you for another task
- trans-utilize your talents at another location
- trans-capitalize on the talents He has given you
- transition you to greater usefulness.
*http://teacher.scholastic.com/reading/bestpractices/vocabulary/pdf/prefixes_suffixes.pdf
**If you have a “20,000 word dictionary” you can look up the many words that are actually words which we use, prefixed by —– “dis” – “in” – “re” “un.”
RhetoricAndHomiletics.Org 