One of the biggest barriers to communication are the copying errors. Things mis quoted, poorly understood, taken out of context, even completely mis apprehended. All of us at one time or another have politely tried to accept directions from someone who is giving us confusing pointers. It could be the language barrier, but just as often it is that persons style of perceptual orientation that renders their instructions useless.
I suggest that unlike computer code, which either "Runs" or doesn't "Run," for those of us that are learning any NEW languages "We Expect Some Uncertainty," in what is communicated, speaking and hearing. (Signal to Noise Ratio)
50% comprehension is actually pretty good when it comes to people trying to be able to understand each other. We really are best advised to "Never Assume" that we are entirely understanding of what each other say. Most people get by with short attentions, hectic schedules, limited cultural exposure and extreme social boredom. This makes for considerable copying errors. People are lucky if they share even a small percent of each others languages, interests or experience. Contextually, we all live in little personalized linguistic bubbles. Hence the lust for a "Group Identity" and it's associated shared "Cultural Linguistic."
"The 85% rule" is mine. I refer to the rare circumstances where people really do "Read" each other very comprehensively. This very low level of "Copying Error" is often marked by rapport, spontaneity and an ease of expression. I've found that this is often one of the most difficult types of relationships. The level of freedom experienced between two people who share a uniquely personal understanding, puts an immense unintentional strain on that relationship. Relationships that are bound by lesser familiarity can run into these points of disagreement all the time. Misunderstanding is often taken for granted. Imagine how horrible it can be for someone who discovers they conflict with a person with whom they communicated generally so well.
We've looked at communication problems resulting from "Dense Code," and the overwhelming difficulties that come from learning any new language or culture. This problem becomes all the more great when we incorporate new technologies. (Open Source?) Add the distance of casual convenience and it becomes effortless to take each other for granted and ignore sensitive boundary issues. Many nations are brought to the brink of war over nothing more than differences of opinion. Imagine how painful that can be between two very close dear friends.
Multi lingual students (polyglots) of the world are educated to speak, read, write and hear many languages in their lifetimes. Although English is considered a possible universal language platform, it is also one of the most problematic of languages to speak. In the practice of translation there has been a move away from just translating word for word. Idioms, figures of speech, analogies, technical and cultural specifics all lend their peculiar meaning to our linguistic mush. The "Hermeneutic" tradition of translation translates for the meaning of what is being communicated. In families today you are talking different languages. Age, gender, educational differences, and even differences in politics and religion can reduce a conversation across a breakfast table to unheard babble. The antagonisms of personal bias can shut down lines of communication for good.
I'd like to thank all of my readers. Someone, (or somebodies) in the Ukraine has been rereading avidly. They may be some of the people who are promoting this type of research. My deepest sympathy to you and your country people in this time of great stress. Hopefully we may be looking at the way out of these conflicts. {Having had my blog shut down in Russia has only reenforced my dread of censorship.}
No comments:
Post a Comment
Is there anybody out there?