Language is an engine

Language is an engine: it does useful work; it makes and breaks things. It includes body language.


All language is embedded in context and this is why reputational effects are important.


Actively exclude “but” from your language: it is toxic; use “and”. And state the positives, not the negatives. Semantically a double negative is positive. Instrumentally it is not.


The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)is reputed not to have said “No” – this is entirely possible based on reputational effects: not agreeing, others would have learnt was his way of saying “No” – like the Queen’s, “That’s very interesting.”