Unconcious Change

Have you ever made a change without thinking about it?  Here's an example (since my brain is focused on changing language).  My parents say "garbage" - as in, "toss the paper in the garbage".  I say "trash" - as in "toss the paper in the trash".  I am sure I said "garbage" as a kid, but now I always say "trash".  I guess it doesn't matter which you say, because they're both grammatically correct and you're getting your point across. 

But I wonder--

When did I make this change, and why!?  If I did it on purpose, perhaps I could have learned from that experience.  I could apply the same principles to switching from "s#!t" to "bah!" (or whatever).

The funny thing about language (at least, your first language) is, you don't really think about it.  Thoughts get translated to words with little effort put into the words themselves.  It's hard to turn that part of the brain on - the part that manages the WORDS.  

This is the way my brain works (I think):

Dropping a bunch of papers onto a wet, dirty floor --> very bad --> express anger --> expletive
...So now I need to find a way to consciously address this unconscious translation.  And it's a huge pain.

This brings me back to mental models.  If you haven't read the literature on mental models, you should.  It's interesting.

But I think I have a mental model in operation here between [very bad --> express anger --> expletive].  That is, I have a deeply rooted thought process that says: the way I express anger quickly, efficiently, and effectively is to utter a single word or phrase.  Everyone will know by this single word or phrase the extent to which I am mad.  Hence, I will have expressed the appropriate amount of anger.  My mental model may not be "correct", but it's the way my brain is processing the world around me.  Seriously - go read about mental models.  Links at the bottom.

So do I just need a new vocabulary?  Will this new vocabulary be as effective at expression?

I'd love to hear examples from you.  Have you changed certain words or phrases on purpose?  How did you approach your change?  Any thoughts on mental models?




Mental Models - GO READ!
http://www.tcd.ie/Psychology/other/Ruth_Byrne/mental_models/
http://www.lauradove.info/reports/mental%20models.htm