#NTPOC Improv: My 25-Word Language

As part of an online course/learning community on student and faculty engagement, I've been introduced to the idea of improvs. Similar to ice breakers, these improvs get students (and faculty) to think differently about something common, such as a frisbee or language. You learn something about the others in the activity based on their choices.

This second improv was fascinating for me because I love words. I love choosing just the right word to express exactly what I'm thinking. I love stringing words together to become something melodic, in meaning and structure. It doesn't always happen, but I get giddy when it does.

With that in mind, here is the activity:

Improvisation Activity

You have been chosen as part of a small team whose mission is to colonize a new planet. The ship you are traveling in is small, as are the consequent space and memory allotments for each team member. You are allowed only the minimum baggage necessary for survival and building, as well as a small amount of space for personal items. As a colonizing unit, your entire community is permitted a total allocation of only twenty-five words for communication.

You have 10 minutes to come up with your list. It was difficult for me not because I couldn't use all of the wonderful words I love, like facetious and cacophony. But because I had to pare down the words to those that had the most value. That could communicate the most important things for survival. Some things I had to cut related mostly to feelings: love, sadness, tired. I also eliminated things that could be pointed to. In reading other answers, I didn't include anything around beauty, which surprised me in hindsight. I thought about including numbers, but where do you stop?

It was a very interesting exercise, and I do think there are some interesting similarities as well as interesting differences among what my fellow learners included in their lists.

Here is my 25-Word Language:
No

Yes

Good

Bad

Water

Fire

Food

Need

Have

You

Make

Home

Friend

Move

Here

Hot

Cold

Less

Hurt

Help

Clean

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