Truth and Redefinition
In the book description for The terrorist at my table, (the collection in which "The right word" was originally published), the publisher Bloodaxe Books raises the question: "What do any of us know about the person who shares this street, this house, this table, this body?" Dharker's poem "The right word" encompasses this question as the speaker redefines a situation in which someone stands outside her door. By progressively referring to this person as a terrorist, a freedom fighter, a hostile militant, a guerrilla warrior, a martyr, and a child, the speaker adjusts the reader's perception. Once the speaker arrives at the impression that the boy resembles her own son and the son of the reader, the speaker invites this boy into her home. This demonstrates the capability we all have to redefine a situation and alter our understanding of the truth, which can then change our actions in the world.
The Power of Words
"The right word" highlights the way that word choice impacts people's perceptions. Referring to the boy standing outside the speaker's house as "a hostile militant" has a different effect than remarking how much he resembles the speaker's own son (Lines 10 and 23). Word choice in the context of the poem (whether the boy should be called a terrorist, a freedom fighter, or neither) is influenced by religious, cultural, political, and social factors.
The process of searching for the right word in the poem is evocative of the role that media plays in shaping perception. Media reports on terrorism often sensationalize violence. In a report on Media and Terrorism given to a European Committee on Culture, Science, and Education, the Czech academic and politician Josef Jařab states that "The media are attracted by extreme terrorist acts not only because it is their duty to report on any major event but also because, at the same time, the dramaturgy of terrorism attracts large scale attention." Rhetorical techniques in the reporting of these events shape public perception. A UNESCO report on Terrorism and Media states that certain kinds of representations "can fan stereotypes and division, and fuel backlash and counter-violence" (Marthoz). While the poem does not explicitly delve into this problem on a mass scale, it does showcase this on an individual level as the speaker grapples to find the right language for the situation.
Breaking Artificial Barriers
Words are capable of impacting the relationships between people. As the title of the poem suggests, the speaker in "The right word" searches for the correct language to define the situation before her. A boy stands outside the speaker's door, and depending on the words used to describe him, the context changes. Referring to the boy as a "terrorist" inspires fear and derision no matter what the boy's intentions really are. This demonstrates that words are capable of creating artificial barriers between people. Remarking on the resemblance between the boy and the speaker's own son breaks down the barrier between them.
The speaker in the poem eventually arrives at the conclusion that no words can help her. This happens when the border between the speaker and the boy is broken down by a sense of familiarity; the boy is "a child who looks like [hers]" (Line 23). It is at this point in the poem that the speaker invites the boy in for dinner. Breaking down artificial barriers opens up possibilities for connection.
