By Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil

DIGNITY is a powerful, broad concept, underlying Human Rights. Since it is predominantly realized through communicative acts (spoken, written, signed), communicative dignity should be researched and taught systematically. One way of doing that is by using a list of Related Concepts–Terms, each linked to a thought–provoking question, for individual or group reflection.

The listing below is open–ended, so readers are asked to add to it and apply it in the varied contexts in which they engage in communicating dignifyingly. If we are to be worthy of the role of Communicative Dignifiers, we should fulfill our communicative responsibility in well–informed, humanizing ways.

A – APOLOGY. How do we communicate regret for committing a rude act?

A – APPRECIATION. How do we communicate our grateful recognition to someone, to a group, a community, etc? What vocabulary and phraseologies are used? How effectively?

C – COMPASSION. How do we communicate deep sympathy for someone`s painful or sad condition or experience?

C – COOPERATION. How do we communicate our willingness to act together, for a common benefit?

E – ENCOURAGEMENT. How do we inspire confidence? What do we say to help someone feel (more) confident in what they are (going) to do?

F – FAIRNESS. How do we communicate, in ways free from bias or injustice ?

H – HARMONY. How do we communicate feelings of harmonious relations?

H – HUMILITY. How do we communicate modesty, lack of vanity?

P – POSITIVENESS.How do we communicate constructively, emphasizing good things?

P – PEACE. How do we communicate peacefully, constructively, serenely? On this aspect,google my text Learning to communicate peacefully, written for the Online Encyclopedia of Peace Education.

R – RESPECT. How de we communicate admiration, proper acceptance and the like?

May this listing arouse your interest in doing your very best to learn to communicate with DIGNITY, inspired by ideals and principles incorporated in the traditions of PEACE, JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS, NONVIOLENCE and NONKILLING.

(received September 16, 2010)