Laconic is on my favorite words in English language. Much like its meaning, it sounds cold, distant and aloof. It means a very concise, pithy or terse statement. It comes from the Greek word Lakanicos, which meant to act like a lakon or a laconian i.e. a native of Laconia. Laconia is a region in the southern part of the Greece. It surrounded the famous city of Sparta. Laconic, as we know is the verbal equivalent of the word 'Spartan.' The Spartans were renowned for their military prowess, austerity and pithiness of speech. The Spartans were not big on arts and literature, which may have been responsible of their terse and uncomplicated speech. Socrates was of the opinion that the Spartans were actually highly philosophical people but concealed their wisdom through the terseness of their speech for they wanted to be known for their military prowess.
The famous Spartan dry humor is the sense in which we understand the word 'laconic' now. It is interesting to note that it was in clear contrast to the pointed and delicate wit of their arch-rivals, the Athenians which led to the phrase 'Atiic's salt.'
One of the most famous examples of the dry laconic wit comes from the time of invasion of Philip of Macedonia. Having captured most of the Greek cities, he sent a message to Sparta, stating, "If I win this war, I will destroy your lands, slay your people and raze your city." The famous Spartan reply was the one word, "If."
Another story goes that when Leonidas was guarding the narrow mountain pass at Thermopylae with just 7,000 men against Xerxes' Persian army, he was offered that his men would be spared if they gave up their arms. Leonidas replied "Molon labe", which translates to "Come and take them". Today this is the motto of the Greek 1st Army Corps.
Another famous incident before the Battle of Thermopylae was when the Spartan Dienekes was told that the Persians were so huge in number that when they they would attack in unison, their arrows would bolt out the sun. His response was typcally, laconic. "So much the better, we'll fight in the shade." This is the motto of the Greek 20th Armored Division.
My favorite Spartan example of laconicity relates to Polycratidas. He, when sent as a diplomat to the Persians was asked if he had come in a public or private capacity. He replied, "If we succeed, public; if not, private."
Another story goes that when Leonidas was guarding the narrow mountain pass at Thermopylae with just 7,000 men against Xerxes' Persian army, he was offered that his men would be spared if they gave up their arms. Leonidas replied "Molon labe", which translates to "Come and take them". Today this is the motto of the Greek 1st Army Corps.
Another famous incident before the Battle of Thermopylae was when the Spartan Dienekes was told that the Persians were so huge in number that when they they would attack in unison, their arrows would bolt out the sun. His response was typcally, laconic. "So much the better, we'll fight in the shade." This is the motto of the Greek 20th Armored Division.
My favorite Spartan example of laconicity relates to Polycratidas. He, when sent as a diplomat to the Persians was asked if he had come in a public or private capacity. He replied, "If we succeed, public; if not, private."
The first recorded appearance of the word laconic in English seem to be in the 1580s when James VI write in a letter "excuis me for this my laconike writting I ame in suche haist." Next, Francis Beaumont used the phrase 'laconic brevity' in his work, The Little French Lawyer in 1625.
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