If everyone always agreed on what to call things, then my word would be same as your word, and what my content intended would be mutually understood. Well, while trying to talk about vocabulary problem I guess I have drafted my very first statement with complicated vocabulary. To keep things simple, let me tell you this! When someone asks you - "How are you doing"?, If you reply with, "I am ok", the other person can mean you are just OK and there is something that isn’t keeping you all happy. But on your part ok could mean "Oll Korrect" - everything is in place and that means you are doing good.
The impulsive choice of words to speak the same content differs with people, and the probability of two people using the same word is little. The problem could be one of these - use of same word with multiple meanings, use of different words with same meaning, or variation with your normal usage, well the last case is if the person knows you closely enough to know when you say “OK” - it means you are stiff; “okay” – only official, no personal favours please; When it’s an “ok” - there’s no meaning beyond just ok, “k” - you are indeed busy and when you type an “Okie” - your mood is really light(ofcourse this is just my experience with my close chat-associates).
"I meant this and you understood this". - Do we not end up spending extra hours on small things which could have otherwise been avoided? By the time the two people in conversation come to a degree of consensus, friction, argument and many more would have had their unhesitant journey inbetween. But how to avoid this vocabulary problem? How to mean or convey something in a way the other person understands or atleast doesn’t misunderstand.
In most cases the problem lies with us than with the other person involved in the conversation. Sometimes our words deceive our action. When we say "ok", "fine", "go ahead" - we actually mean the opposite of it. Let’s put our thoughts in words - as frank as we want them to mean and not give space for assumption. Empathy is probably an alternative solution. We should assume that the other person doesn’t have one and that we have it in lots and give freely. When we say something to the other person, let’s be at the receiving end and perceive, if in the context our usage of the word makes right sense? Another thing that spots on is, with too many things on hand and mind, we tend to be discrete..and answer in points. We often forget we are humans and we have adequate senses. Why don’t we just say, "hey thanks. I am doing ok, how are you " - this would avoid people from interpreting us differently for we would’ve spoken out every word and leave nothing to assume instead of just “I am ok”.
It’s also possible that a person’s meaning or interpretation of a word depends on the region and environment he is from. While that’s one part of it, even among two close people within a family, simple statements can get misunderstood. That’s because everyone who involves in a conversation is a person and not a machine. Each will have his own belief, opinion, experience on every word that he utters. It’s the context he is familiar with and the word-usage that he is used to, he uses with/on you. So, when we see the person behind the word we will avoid most of the mis-interpretation.
This isn’t an exception with official communication. When its personal and/or emotional, an after word could atleast solve issues springing from mis-communication. Think about those words that can make or break a deal in business. There’s no chance for a second explanation. Many a times the clients would be from a different geographical zone and although we may share the same official language, there could be a regional tinge which could make same words mean different to the two parties. Here is where a need to understand the person’s meaning of a word and use the same/similar one while communicating with him to avoid mystification.
Well, if we don’t interpret, much of the problem gets solved; but interpretation is the basis of communication.
You need to interpret what’s on your mind and put it across. And I need to interpret your words as I listen and take action. But let my action not be to point fingers at you.
Lo! Vocabulary problem doesn’t have a solution. Hope it fades with our efforts:)
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