WORDS
Everyday we all struggle with words. (Well, maybe I exaggerate because I struggle and I think everyone else does) Anyone who is married, certainly knows what I mean. In fact if you have parents , siblings, friends, children or co-workers - anyone in your life, you struggle with words.
I called my husband the other day when I was at the grocery store and asked if we had any baked beans in the pantry. I thought I would make some chili for dinner. He put me on hold and left me alone for a long time so I knew he was taking this question very seriously. When he returned to the phone his answer was "no, we do not have any baked beans in the pantry."
"OK, well, I'll pick some up so I can make chili for dinner." End of story, you ask???
NO...it is not the end of the story. The story is about words. How do we communicate with one another without language. It is a deeply esoteric question. It taps into the very core of our understanding; of carrying on an intelligent conversation with another human being. I got home from the store with the can of beans and several other things and went to the pantry to get the other fixings for our meal. There on the shelf were cans of grilling beans, chili beans, brown sugar beans, and other kinds of beans. Naturally, I was quite indignant. I asked if we had any baked beans, for goodness sake.
"Well," said my husband totally innocent, "I read every label and none of them said baked beans. Thus, I answered you correctly.....there are no baked beans in the pantry."
See what I mean about language. One person's "grilling beans" is another person's "baked beans". I tell you, you have to be precise when asking these questions. It's all in the words.
Everyday we all struggle with words. (Well, maybe I exaggerate because I struggle and I think everyone else does) Anyone who is married, certainly knows what I mean. In fact if you have parents , siblings, friends, children or co-workers - anyone in your life, you struggle with words.
I called my husband the other day when I was at the grocery store and asked if we had any baked beans in the pantry. I thought I would make some chili for dinner. He put me on hold and left me alone for a long time so I knew he was taking this question very seriously. When he returned to the phone his answer was "no, we do not have any baked beans in the pantry."
"OK, well, I'll pick some up so I can make chili for dinner." End of story, you ask???
NO...it is not the end of the story. The story is about words. How do we communicate with one another without language. It is a deeply esoteric question. It taps into the very core of our understanding; of carrying on an intelligent conversation with another human being. I got home from the store with the can of beans and several other things and went to the pantry to get the other fixings for our meal. There on the shelf were cans of grilling beans, chili beans, brown sugar beans, and other kinds of beans. Naturally, I was quite indignant. I asked if we had any baked beans, for goodness sake.
"Well," said my husband totally innocent, "I read every label and none of them said baked beans. Thus, I answered you correctly.....there are no baked beans in the pantry."
See what I mean about language. One person's "grilling beans" is another person's "baked beans". I tell you, you have to be precise when asking these questions. It's all in the words.
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