When we use the terms everybody, somebody, anybody, and nobody what do we actually mean? When you are speaking to a crowd or addressing a group you may use the word everybody. But do you really mean everybody? Or are you trying to speak directly to a specific somebody or person of interest based on your topic? Commonly confused are also the terms anybody and somebody. When you ask for somebody, are you not just looking for anybody? Or when you are searching for anybody, do you not just want somebody? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, any is defined as “one, some, or all indiscriminately of whatever quantity”, and some is defined as “being one, a part, or an unspecified number of something (as a class or group) named or implied”. These words overlap being of whatever quantity, or an unspecified number of something. Since they both have unidentified amounts they need each other for them to exist.
In our society when we ask for people in the “body” terms are we being discriminating, almost labeling people and placing them in groups. When we use term “body” it almost feels like we aren’t seeing people for the human and soul that they are, rather we anxiously look to fill the void only a body can replace. Instead of valuing the human, we see people as objects rather than subjects. In addition the term body sounds desperate towards your audience. For example, in movies when they ask if “anybody is there?” it sounds almost more desperate than asking if anyone would be there.
Instead of using the informal and casual term, “body”, we can replace it with the term “one”. I prefer this word because it sees people for the individuals they are. Anyone, Everyone, Someone, and No one sound more personal than placing the common label of ‘just a body’ on people. It favors looking at each and every person for the singular person they are rather than grouping the faces.
Breaking down the word “body” I found it to be very enlightening. Some people when they first hear the word body they think of a body of a paragraph, or the part connecting your head and limbs. But according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word body is “the main part of a plant or animal; a mass of matter distinct from other masses”. So when we use the term everybody, we talk addressing the mass matter rather than people? Or anybody, we are asking for any form of matter? No matter? Some matter?
In conclusion, since we indeed do have bodies and they are our temples to work in, I believe we should respect, value and take care of them. Using the words, Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody, may be appropriate, but sometimes it is important to think and remember the underlying message it may portray. Trying to be desperate, or using terms that try to address the group as a whole, or a blur of faces may not engage the audience, and may feel almost blocked. Now after doing this research I will try to create more personal engaging conversations with other humans.
Lisa D'Onofrio 