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We
present today
the long-promised “GLOSSARY”
of The Shape of the Future words and
phrases that readers need to understand our
columns in Bacon’s
Rebellion -- and to conduct intelligible
discourse about sustainable societies. This
version of the GLOSSARY is in draft form, and
comments and suggestions are welcome. (See End
Note One.)
Why
Bother Creating a Glossary?
Creating
and using a robust, consistent, intelligent
Vocabulary is critical to understanding human
settlement patterns. Such a Vocabulary is
essential for any attempt to create Balanced
Communities in Sustainable New Urban Regions. (See
End Note Two.)
The
importance of an intelligent Vocabulary was
explored at length in The Shape of the
Future. There is discussion of Vocabulary
in Chapter 3 of The Shape of the
Future and consideration of what comes
first: A Comprehensive Conceptual Framework for
human settlement patterns (the New Urban Region
Conceptual Framework) or; a Vocabulary with
which to discuss the Framework. The conclusion?
Both come first.
Four
columns – “The
Foundation of Babble,” 28 November 2005,
“Deconstructing
the Tower of Babel,” 12 December 2005, “Babble
Postscript,” 3 January 2006, and “Words
Matter,” 20 March 2006 provide ample
evidence from contemporary sources of the
absolute necessity of a functional Vocabulary
that is different than what is now in use.
There
are references to the critical role of
Vocabulary throughout both volumes of The
Shape of the Future. In addition, the book
includes two Appendices devoted to Vocabulary:
APPENDIX ONE: LEXICON and APPENDIX TWO: CORE
CONFUSING WORDS. This material provides a
starting point for considering Vocabulary.
We
are also making available to Bacon's
Rebellion readers a “Vocabulary
Supplement,” 1 August
2007. Those who have become
familiar with the issue of Vocabulary though The Shape of the Future will find
this document useful. This document outlines the
evolution of the Vocabulary introduced in 2000
in The Shape of the Future up to the
publication of TRILO-G scheduled to be
released in mid-2008. (See End
Note Three.)
The
Role of GLOSSARY in TRILO-G
Understanding
the role of GLOSSARY in TRILO-G is where the
Backgrounder, “Brief
Summary of TRILO-G” [will come in handy.
As the title suggests, TRILO-G is made up of
three books. BRIDGES is the second book of
TRILO-G
and Chapter 7 of BRIDGES, “Gibberish: The
Vocabulary of Babel” provides a link between
the strategic perspective on words and phrases
found in The Shape of the Future and
their application in the tools found in
ACTION PROGRAMS. Chapter 7 of BRIDGES
demonstrates the need for a robust and
consistent Vocabulary. The chapter summarizes
several Bacon’s Rebellion columns that
link misuse of common words like “city,”
“suburban” and “rural” to
misunderstandings of the nature and function of
human settlement patterns.
The
GLOSSARY Section VI. of HANDBOOK provides
refinements to the definitions of key words and
phrases outlined in The Shape of the
Future and adds additional words and
phrases and cross referencing that will be
useful in carrying out The Three-Step Process.
Minding
the Capitals, Bolds and Spellings
As
readers of Bacon’s Rebellion know, the
use of capital letters, typeface, and in some
cases the spelling of words, is important. There
is a vast difference between “community” and
“Community.” GLOSSARY is prepared with, and
must be used with, attention to capitalization,
typeface and spelling. Bold face of individual
words indicates they are defined in GLOSSARY.
The
HANDBOOK outlines a process to create Balanced
Communities within Sustainable New Urban Regions
and Urban Support Regions in three steps.
GLOSSARY is a companion to the later sections of
HANDBOOK which outlines that process. GLOSSARY
reflects the importance of Vocabulary which,
along with the New Urban Region Conceptual
Framework, is essential to understanding human
settlement patterns.
A
working knowledge of the key words used in The
Three-Step Process is critical to its success.
Without a consensus on the meanings of the
pivotal words used in Step One - Goal Setting,
it is not possible to agree on an intelligent
compendium of First-Tier and Second-Tier Goals.
Unless there is consistent use of words throughout
the process - not just the articulation of goals
but in every step - the work to establish sketch
plans becomes meaningless due to confusion about
what is actually intended.
GLOSSARY
is intended to make citizens aware of words and
phrases that can facilitate an understanding of
human settlement pattern issues. These words and
phrases are critical in creating common ground
and clarity through out the process. This
section identifies words and phrases that can be
misunderstood and provides a basis for
recognizing specific words which may be used in
ways that are intentionally or unintentionally
misleading and should be avoided.
Key
Words and Phrases Defined and Explained The
definitions of key words and phrases are listed
in alphabetical order. Definitions are often
followed by a discussion of key words used
throughout TRILO-G in the discussion of human
settlement patterns. As suggested by the column,
“The End of
Family As We Know It,” 30 July 2007, some
of the definitions are quite detailed when the
topic is complex or contradicts conventional
wisdom of a topic. There is also a summary
listing of the CORE CONFUSING WORDS at the end
of this section. Many
words and phrases can be confusing. During the
goal-setting process in every application of the
Three-Step Process, it will be desirable to set
down key definitions and emphasize words and
phrases that should be avoided in the context of
that process. If these words and phrases are not
avoided, they must be defined and, if
applicable, quantified so that there is no
question as to their meaning. Additional
words may be added to those listed in GLOSSARY
during any Three-Step Process. The overarching
goal is that the definitions of all key words
and phrases be broadly agreed-to and consistent.
During any Three Step Process, if a question is
raised about the meaning of any word or phrase,
it needs to be defined. Often,
rather than arguing over the use of specific
words and phrases, it is better to agree on a
new word or phrase that describes exactly what
everyone can agree on. The process of agreeing
on alternative words and phrases itself will
often expose the complexity of a proposed goal,
objective or concept that is obscured by
overused or misused words or phrases. Comments
and Suggestions Are Welcome Are
there more confusing words and phrases that need
to be addressed? Do the definitions that are
included need amplification? A
note of advice: Do not bother to suggest that
the current vocabulary is sufficient to
understand human settlement patterns. Such a
statement only demonstrates the fact that the
comment is founded in misunderstanding. Better
to save the effort for a submission to the Flat
Earth Journal. --
August 13, 2007
End
Notes
(1).
The GLOSSARY will become Section IV. of HANDBOOK.
HANDBOOK is one of the two Volumes
that make up ACTION PROGRAMS. ACTION PROGRAMS is
the Omega (last) Book of TRILO-G.
(2).
The GLOSSARY is an integral part of The
Three-Step Process included in the Omega Book of
TRILO-G and is also a resource for the use in
all three volumes of TRILO-G.
(3). The fourth edition of
The Shape of the Future,
the Alpha Book of TRILO-G, includes The Shape of
the Future - Fourth Edition Vocabulary
Supplement.
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