Often we meet the words "concise", "conciseness" in the conversation. In communicating with others, we value their ability to concisely convey information, because this saves our time. We have known the meaning of this term since childhood - they denote short, but meaningful speeches. However, not everyone was specifically interested in the term, and even more so in its history. The latter, by the way, is very interesting with the word "succinctly".
In this article we will consider the meaning of the word "concise", as well as the origin of this adjective. Interesting facts from history will come in handy, as they illustrate the pinnacle of conciseness.
About the meaning
Dictionaries interpret the meaning of the adverb "succinctly" through the word from which it came - "laconicism". Let's start with this.
So, conciseness is the expression of thoughts in speech form, in which the minimum number of words is used. "Conciseness", "briefness" can be read as the closest synonyms of the word.
From here we logically have that "succinctly" is concise, concise, laconic to express one's thoughts.
Origin of the word
As we started talking at the beginning of the article, the origin of the word "succinctly" is interesting in itself. It is rooted in the history of ancient Greece and affects such a world-famous city as Sparta.
The word "conciseness" has a common root with the name of one of the regions of Ancient Greece - Laconia. It was here that Sparta was located, and even Socrates himself, the great thinker of antiquity, drew the attention of future generations to the amazing manner of communication of the Spartans. He warned that sincere surprise awaits the interlocutor when he hears Spartan speeches.
The simplicity and accuracy of the expressions of the Spartans Socrates compared with the speeches of a child, only in a practical way. They are just as sharp and directed exactly to the goal, as can sometimes be noticed in a conversation with an underdeveloped child - they are not distorted by generally accepted secular elements, but concern only the case. The Spartans knew how to show what "succinctly" means.
Interesting facts from history
Legends have come down to us about the laconic speeches of the Spartans. One of them is connected with the events near Thermopylae, the unequal battle between King Leonidas and the Persians. To the proud statements of the Persian king Xerxes that the Spartans, with the number of their troops, should lay down their spears and surrender in order to stay alive, Leonidas replied: “Come and take it.”
The valor and ingenious simplicity of Leonid's speeches are immortalized in his dialogue with his wife. Ta beforeAt the battle of Thermopylae, she asked her husband what to do if he died. “Marry a worthy husband and give birth to he althy children,” was the answer, according to legend, she received.
A brilliant, witty response from the Spartans was received by Philip of Macedon on the way to the walls of the city of Sparta, which he intended to capture. Blinded by his previous victories, Philip told the Spartans that if the gates were broken through, the walls of Sparta would be crushed and taken by the conquering army, as well as all of Greece before that. The brevity of the Spartans struck Macedonian: "If" - that was their answer. The result can be foreseen at least by the fact that the son of Philip, Alexander, did not dare to go to war against Sparta.
Conclusion
Now we know for sure that succinct is short, but not just laconic. Conciseness implies a brilliantly thought out answer that can replace long speeches.
It is not in vain that folk wisdom says about the brevity of the presentation of thoughts: "Brevity is the sister of talent." And indeed: in order to reach that pinnacle of figurativeness of short expressions of famous Greeks, one must have talent. Laconic is also Spartan, as history says.
It remains for us to train, to develop intellectually and spiritually, through the experience of previous generations and our own attempts. Perhaps speaking concisely is your talent?
