Different ways to interpret the word May
In the English language, may primarily functions as a modal verb. A modal verb cannot function on its own and often follows a main verb. For example, ‘I may run later’ or ‘I will run later’. Modal verbs indicate how likely something is to happen. It expresses a possibility, not a certainty. However, we also know that ‘May’ can be a name because it’s the name of the current month. In the Northern Hemisphere, May is the final month of Spring and spiritually can represent fertility and renewal. Have you ever stopped to notice how one tiny word can mean completely different things depending on how you use it? Here it is again, the power of words. Whether in business or in our personal lives, it’s important to fully understand the meaning of the words we select to use and therefore the meaning those words can convey.
May is a month of prosperity and growth. Hopefully our previous blogs have provided insight into the different ways this can manifest in business. May has provided Star Wars Day, World Asthma Day, World Bee Day and international tea day. It’s been a month of many opportunities to engage with your community about your interests and personality, and it’s been wonderful to see many of our clients using these hooks to inspire social media posts. May is a month, a name, a flower and occasionally a word used that causes confusion in emails. For such a short word, may carries a surprising amount of meaning.
Hawthorn is the flower of May also known as ‘mayflower’. Clearly named after the month in which it blooms, it’s a clear sign that spring is turning to summer. The pale green leaves of this hedgerow staple are often seen this time of year with pretty pink blossoms. It brims with wildlife such as birds and insects. Hawthorn is widely known in folklore as the ‘May tree.’
However, here at Scott Media may also has some personal connotations. My grandmother was called Phyllis May Milsom. She was a wonderful lady and will be remembered with such love. My own daughter Georgia, who is now 24 years old, has ‘May’ as her middle name. Names are often passed down through generations, so this small word has a personal, deeper meaning for us.
May 18th to 24th was also Dementia Awareness week and those close to the Scott family will know that my father-in-law Dougie Scott passed away in 2021 and he also had dementia. Dementia is such a cruel disease and robs people of their very identities. It was hard to watch his illness progress, but his brilliantly humorous personality will never be forgotten. The well-known Alzheimer’s society is a charity in England and Wales recognisable by their logo, the forget me not. May is a month about spreading awareness to those around us and taking time to remember the important people that have an impact on our lives.
The tone in which we say may also makes a difference. The permission version of may where someone says, ‘may I go to the bathroom?’ turns a simple request into something formal. It’s true that using may instantly sound more polite. There’s then the way that may shows up in wishes and hopes. ‘May you have a wonderful day’ sounds warm and sincere. This version of may sounds like it should be written in cards or at the end of emails. Using may can make someone sound more old-fashioned or like they’re from a Victorian manor house.
What makes may so interesting though, is its ability to exist beyond certainty. It rarely gives a straight answer. For such a small word, may does an immense amount of work. Once you start noticing it, you realise how often our language affects meaning. Do you think about the words you use in business? Do you think about the words you use in life?
Can you do the same thing for June?