Words The Most Confusing of All Things...

This is an essay, not a story, on how communication can be hindered when we fail to seek a words proper meaning versus our perceived connotation.

It might seem on the surface that words, spoken or written, are quite fundamental, easy to understand. Is this really the case though? In all reality words are most misleading. Perhaps I should explain.

     Almost every word in any given language has multiple and sometimes contradicting meanings, it is worth considering how sarcasm can reverse the meaning of a word in contemplating this. Also every word has three distinct meanings in it's simplest interpretation. The denotation of the word, which is it's dictionary given meaning, which in itself is sometimes not exclusive. Ever taken a look at a dictionary some words have more than one given meaning. Then there is the connotation of a word, which is the meaning the speaker or writer is actually applying to the word. With all things considered, being that language is an attempt to communicate, this would or should be the most important interpretation of the word. The third and less obvious interpretation however is the most significant interpretation and is the listener, or reader's connotation of these words. I can not count the times I have been present to overhear a conversation between two people that I knew well, yet they had just met, and they were having a conversation and either totally agreed with each other or disagreed, and in reality were talking about two entirely different subjects to begin with, neither having a clue of this fact.

     So at this point you might ask yourself. Just how do we unravel the mysterious meanings of these words? What are people really saying to me? Words in and by themselves having no real meaning that we can cling to, is there any hope of understanding someone else at all, or of them understanding us?

     Consider this. When my daughter was an infant and clung to my finger smiling up at me. I needed no words to understand her at all. When she was five years old and I stood beside her at the school bus stop, with her clinging to my hand as tight as she could with anxiety on her face and her small frame as tense as it could get. I needed no words to understand her at this moment either. Communication transcends mere words. I knew and still know my daughter's feelings, hopes and perception of life. It is what gives meaning to every word she speaks, or writes. It would be safe to say at this juncture that truly understanding the person is the key to understanding there words, whether of tongue or pen.

     With that said, how often do we really even make an effort to understand the people we meet, or are we more satisfied to just accept our perception of them and judge there words by that standard? If I spoke to you, would you listen to me or would you just hear me?

Reviews

[Taylor]

I appreciate this message and surely have experienced all the confusion that you describe in dealing with others. I have sometimes said what I meant, sometimes meant what I said and at other times, it has all gone askew for the reasons you describe. The communication that occurs from truly being present to another person with an open heart is (for me) the essence of life. I loved the description of your time with your daughter. The two of you are very fortunate to have each other. I have such relationships in my life and there is nothing that compares to it.

[Jamie R. Robillard Sr.]

Words are very important to me, as they are one of the most meaningful methods of exchange. A picture may say a thousand words, but how many thousands can I say while you paint it? :D

Though it is often to our benefit to realize that what we said, is often not what is heard. As every person's reality is no more or less then what they accept from their perception of their environment (that makes it clear as mud now doesn't it :D ).

Take care and thanks for the wonderful and cognitive review.