Conflict!

Conflict!

Oh! Terrible word!

Terrible feeling!

When I hear the word, conflict my stomach clenches up.

What does clench mean?

It means to grab, hold, tighten up, contract, bite down.

Many people - from all over the world - clench their teeth when they feel nervous and angry.

Conflicts make many people - from all over the world - feel nervous and angry.

So how to deal with conflicts in English in the United States?

Ah! That's a challenge!

To do that, we must:

1. Deal with conflict (maybe the hardest thing!)

2. Understand how American culture deals with conflict

3. Know and use good English words and phrases for conflict situations

I will try to write a bit about each of these things.

I will not try to tell you how to deal with conflict perfectly here, there, or anywhere.

Because I do not live on Planet Perfect and I do deal with conflict perfectly here, there, or anywhere!

By the way, conflict is both a noun AND a verb.

Ah! Crazy English! Do you feel conflicted about it?

Conflict is a noun.

Conflict is a verb.

The emphasis is on con in the noun and flict in the verb.

Con means against. Flict is from fligere - to strike.

Conflict = Strike Against.

What happens when you strike two things together?

Heat!

Fire!