Being Articulate, The Art of Culture.

The art of culture. As I write this phrase with specific intent, I hope to stress the importance of the word ‘art’ as in an art form, a professional composition or vocational craft. To establish common understanding before diving into such a thought, I’ve come to appreciate the words ‘articulate’ and ‘articulation’ to a much broader scope of understanding and felt compelled to examine it further. In its physical sense, being articulate, as a dancer let’s say, describes someone who demonstrates physical awareness. Their body acts in such a way that their motions move purposefully and precisely in its expression. Every joint and posturing twist and turn gracefully moves into place from one thing to another in a seemingly effortlessly and pragmatic manner, an intentional pursuit of actions regarded in a professional setting as a noble skill by those who spectate. The inarticulate, on the other hand, can be described as having two left feet, an idiom stemming from the taboo associated with the left side of the body and is assigned to those who behave clumsily or awkwardly.

Articulation as described in dance - from muscles, joints, posturing, rhythm and so forth - how may this be abstractly assigned to the actions of speech, how then are these physical acts translated from the body’s patterns of dance to that of the mind’s patterns of speech? To be inarticulate in speech is found in those who speak with fillers such as, ‘Um, you know? and like.’ Unable to express one’s thoughts, formulate ideas, portray visions, or compel and convince others, this is an awkwardness much like that found in the clumsiness of none dancers. This lack of grace is devoid of attractive qualities; whether rigid or spastic, neither are of favorable quality. Much like the dancer who possesses physical awareness with every limb measured and accounted for to every proper position in space and rhythm along a performance, an articulate speaker is one who understands his limbs of speech. Those who do understand the art of pacing, timing, tone, context, inflection, expression, etc. - they where described as speakers of magic words in more archaic and less educated times. This is because their ability to formulate complex thoughts and ideas into effective translation equally to the scholars as much as to the commoners seemed damn near feats of herculean effort. The ability to captivate an audience with an interesting fact or good story draws them in, but then held firmly as the speaker addresses those in the crowd, as if calling them to join in on the adventure. They speak with conviction, knowing what they want to say without hesitation, as well as rephrase and rework sentences effortlessly for those who hesitate in understanding. By paying attention to what you say, you search and consider what your words truly mean. Does your message come across in the most effective way so that those who listen fully comprehend the perspective in which you are coming from? Does your message gather your conscious self towards a focused austere point in the effort to resolve, or does it scatter your message towards a dissolute and weaker expression of self?

This capability is fundamentally expected and highly regarded amongst all top level positions of industry. Those at the top do not arrive there by stumbling out the door, they inherently understand the critical importance of getting their message across. To be articulate enables those to get others on board with their vision, secure relationships, organize and settle dealings, so on and so forth all in an effort that opens doors and reach the pinnacle of their domain, “the combination of being compelling, interesting, genuine and trustworthy” as clinical phycologist Jordan Peterson has remarked on the subject. The phrase, ‘walk the walk and talk the talk’ comes to mind as I write because an effective individual, if that is their desire to be, aims to integrate language and action as a necessary precondition for operating as an effective individual and aligning what is said with what is done - practicing what you preach. Practice implies purposeful effort or courteous goodwill to those who haven’t yet achieved perfection, but still live with the aim of an ideal.

-Busy Brain