Order Matters Does it?

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

In the syntactic galaxy there was a heavily fought debate… with Lightsabers in hand Master Yoda and Master Reicha fought until one if their tragic deaths.

The ancient debate on “Word Order” has torn galaxies apart for over centuries. The age-old question is “Order matters does it?” Master Yoda would say the answer is, no. Master Reicha at Hi&Lo would say, sort of.

Ok Ok…. In all seriousness…

The answer is while presenting is clearly: yes. Efficient word order may be your key to successfully presenting online. How? Well, according to syntax word order is one of the most important linguistic factors in speech. Often this point is neglected when trying to place shortened sentences in bullet points on slides.

The basic idea of syntax is defined by the arrangement of words and phrases to construct well-formed sentences in a language. They influence our language and speech by creating meaning. You may think language is flexible and we can write or speak sentences in a nonspecific order and the intention would still be understood. While this is partially true it is not the most powerful and efficient way to present. We can see that using syntax to our advantage helps us convey meaning more objectively and purposefully.

Syntax is the set of rules, principles, and processes that govern the structure of sentences. In every language this usually includes the word order. This set of rules helps the reader to interpret what meaning the author is trying to convey. In English, the proper order is considered to be “Subject, Verb, Object” (SVO). This is the area in which the rules of syntax offer the most leeway, and consequently perhaps the easiest area in which to make mistakes.

For example

Incorrect: After the ball Luna ran (OSV)

Correct: Luna ran after the ball (SVO)

Or…

Incorrect: Sleep is something Sirius likes (OSV)

Correct: Sirius likes to sleep (SVO)

Although, they are both technically grammatically correct, the examples prove that word order is important for easier understanding without any misinterpretation.

On the order of words we focus and the rest of the text we write. The meaning the same shall stay, the reader understand it will but easy it is and grammatical? Master Reicha keen is to understand language and therefore tries to learn Master Yoda’s way of speaking. However not professional it is.

Applying word order to your presentation means nothing more than being aware of the sentences ang points on your slides. Read them, re-read them even if you only present in Bullets: