In the past, "affect" was used, or maybe "influence" instead of impact.
Why do some use such a violent word? Is it from the news media...who make everything superlative or overly sensational?
2007-03-19 03:32:27 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Thank you for your note. I've never thought about that, and I've used the word "impact" many times in presentations.
I'm making a note to use affect, influence and other synonims in the future. I am sure this will make my communication more effective, by being able to leverage language differences.
2007-03-19 03:53:52 · answer #1 · answered by OneLilithHidesAnother 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I have no idea what you are talking about! I can use that word in different ways. As in "the asteroid made an impact in the Earth". It hit the Earth hard and made a deep hole. And then i can say "Mike had an big impact in my life.' That my friend Mike was a postitive influence to me and he helped me out many times during my life. I will never forget him.
Where are you from? And what does "impact" mean to you? In the American English dictionary, impact means 'to press together; to have an impact on; a forceful contct, collision, or onset: also, the impetus communicated in or as if in a collision; effect. This isn't a violent word.
2007-03-19 03:45:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
In the ever changing society nothing stays the same to long. Culture, Fashion, and even the language itself. Anything can affect the changes and it seems if it's the media, it's because "impact" is a dramatic word that has strong mental imagery attached to it, I'd want to say it's mostly to get there attention.
2007-03-19 03:36:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
It isn't misused. Having an impact on something means that it affects you VERY much. "Affect" is a weaker word, and "influence" sounds like something that's behind the scenes to us. You have to understand---and respect---the fact that we have a different dialect from you. If something like that is "sensational" to you, then I honestly have to ask what culture you're from. What your people might see as misused may be proper usage to another people.
2007-03-19 03:37:51 · answer #4 · answered by Danagasta 6 · 1⤊ 4⤋
So when an asteroid crashes into the earth, we'll refer to the astroids 'influence' causing a giant explosion?
Violent word...PLEASE!
2007-03-19 03:36:27 · answer #5 · answered by a kinder, gentler me 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
How about I'll "effect" your nose with my fist, or I'll" impact" your nose with my fist, The second one sounds right to me.But I'm just a dumb American under the" influence."
2007-03-19 03:45:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
The impact of my answer will answer will cause Americans to raise their heads and breathe fire out their noses...American media is all about sensationalising events. =P
2007-03-19 03:46:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋