RUN
What Do You Mean By That?
Written By Joyce Bavlinka, M.Ed., LISAC
Erickson’s study of words began while he was recovering from his childhood bout of polio. Erickson studied the dictionary and delved into the many meanings of words. He used that knowledge as a psychiatrist to understand the patient’s vocabulary and built therapy around the patient’s view of the world and their language.
In “The Wisdom of Milton Erickson,” Ron Havens collected and sorted through over a thousand quotes from Erickson. The book is a treasure trove of Erickson observations and ideas! Erickson “… loved word games, puns, metaphors, and the inherent flexibility of language…. The multiple implications of words literally fascinated him.” p. 14
In the “Therapists Must Decipher What Patients Say” section, Havens states that Erickson sees
“….every person has a different perspective or orientation to the world and underlying perspective gives words a slightly different meaning. Understanding can occur only after the therapist has managed to adopt the perspective of the patient and has listened to the patient’s words and observed the patient’s behavior from that perspective.” p. 158
In the “Use the Patient’s Language” section, Havens describes Erickson’s use of patient’s language.
“If a patient used particular terms to describe a presenting problem, or a therapeutic goal, Erickson would use those same terms within the context of metaphors or allegories to provide a new perspective on the problem or on the solution to that problem, sometimes without the client’s direct awareness.” p. 199
In the section, “Use Language to Elicit Reponses, Havens states Erickson:used that knowledge
“was fascinated by the unconscious impacts and idiosyncratic meaning of words. He used words that had one literal meaning and different associative meanings or connotations to communicate indirect messages.” p. 283
Erickson knew people could say one thing at the conscious level and in nonverbal language give a very different story. They could have different meaning to their no. They could say no and mean maybe. They could say no and mean ‘not just yet.’ Or they could say yes and mean no. Erickson searched out exactly what the patient was saying.
Erickson “was impressed that the word “run” can have 142 different meanings depending upon how it is used.” [The Wisdom of Milton H. Erickson, p. 14] I decided to take a few moments to look at the word run and see its many meanings.” Today, www.dictionary.com lists 170 meanings. Here are some meanings and uses of meanings and uses.
To go quickly by moving the legs more rapidly than at a walk
To move with haste
To depart quickly: flee or escape
To run a ship aground
Run between one place and another, as a bus or train
Things can run amuck. There will be thoughts running through your mind. You can run to, run into, run away from, or get run over. You might run after something, run out of money, get run off the road, or be the runner up. You might get the run around, or you might be able to run down the answer. You might go to the football game and watch the running back run for it. You can be a road runner or a runaway. You could run a tight ship. Things might run like clockwork.
The noise of a dishwasher running
The story runs for eight pages
A thought ran through my mind
The road runs north south.
Where the river runs into the ocean
To let tap water run until cold
The well can run dry
You could have a run of luck
Fish could be running
Off for an afternoon run
A run for the money
In the long run
Run from the police
Get run-down
Run a race
Run a fever
Run afoul of
Run after
Run against
Run around in circles
A run-off election
Gun running
Run counter to
Run of the mill
Run the show
Long running play
A bobsled run
A home run
Run on and on
Re-run
Run around
Run after
Runway
Run away with
Run down
Run over
Run of luck
When maple syrup runs
Run up a tab
Run into
Run out of
Run around like a chicken
Run with it
Dog run
Get the runs
Dry run
Run yourself ragged
Run a business
Run Windows on your computer
Run something by you
Have a run in with someone/something
And…. there are songs with run in their titles….. “Run Around Sue” and movies such as “Run Silent, Run Deep,” “Run for Your Life,” and “Running with Scissors.” and movies about runners…. and the band, Run-DMC…. and books and magazines on how to be a better runner…. and locations and addresses such as White Deer Run or Spruce Run.
And according to www.thefreedictionary.com there are words that include run such as:
disgruntled
drunk
shrunk
trunk
crunch
sprung
wrung
prune
Review of words and their meaning allows you to expand your thinking and thought processes. You can become better able to hear what others are saying. A client’s experience, lifestyle, skills, life work and habits will all effect the patterns of language and their understanding of words. Words have completely different meanings when used in different social and cultural contexts.
and now, after this muse on run….
excuse me… gotta run…
gotta run a few errands and then take my afternoon run.
don’t want to run late or i will run into trouble…
Comments? Please run them by me.
Email: joyce@erickson-foundation.org
Resources
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/run
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/run
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/Run
Havens, Ronald, “The Wisdom of Milton H. Erickson,” 1985, Irvington Press
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