The Importance in Vocabulary

Being an English major on the creative writing track, as a writer we are forced to stray away from cliches and to transform any abstract thoughts or words into concrete words. Abstract words are words that do not trigger the five senses. This means that every word we put into our writing is carefully selected and carries a lot of weight in its meaning. This relates to the book Zone One by Colson Whitehead. Colson Whitehead’s language use is specific and forces the reader to “navigate” through this sci-fi world. Every word in this book has a meaning. According to this website, the use of these specific keywords enable the writer to quickly and effectively communicate their meaning. Whitehead’s meaning of Zone One is to portray that his world is far from the ordinary.

Vocabulary is not only important to the writer, but it is important to the reader as well. Comprehension of vocabulary is crucial in achieving the main goal of reading which is understanding. According to Scholastic, “Words are the currency of communication. A robust vocabulary improves all areas of communication — listening, speaking, reading and writing.” It is critical that the writer effectively translates his or her ideas for the reader to understand. Whitehead effectively carries out these tasks in Zone One creating a diverse and alternate universe for readers to embark in.

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