Excerpts from
"Changing Your Stripes"

Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor

Understanding How Words Work:
You Can't Say What You Mean!.
by Matt Moody, Ph.D..

What is the meaning of the following phrase: I had a car stolen

If the phrase " I had a car stolen" is spoken verbally, the meaning of the phrase is clarified through accompanying vocal inflections and body gestures; as the Speaker changes the accent and emphasis on particular words, a change in meaning is indicated.

How Words Work. Words provide definitional constraints that narrow possible interpretations. Meaning is not directly in words per se; rather meaning resides in human beings. Mortals are meaning-makers, and as such, they "bring" meaning to words — the act of "bringing" is called translation or interpretation.

A good illustration of how words work is given in the phrase: I had a car stolen.

Is there a single meaning in this string of words? Because words can offer only approximate definitional boundaries, it is clear that this five-word phrase can have more than one meaning; yet the phrase does constrain the translator-listener to a few likely possibilities. Putting vocal inflection upon individual words in the following phrases, consider these three possible meanings:

         I had a car stolen — a car was stolen from me, in the past.

         I had a car stolen — "a" single car was stolen from me, whether in the past or present.

         I had a car stolen — I enlisted the help of another person to pilfer a pontiac for me,
                                      a car that was not mine.

The five-word phrase provides interpretive boundaries that narrows meaning to at least three feasible options, and there are more, especially as various voice inflections, body gestures, and emotions are added to the speaking of these words.

As to our five-word phrase, the symbols alone cannot limit meaning to one possibility. So how will we ever know what was meant? EASY: If the Speaker is still alive, we can ask that Speaker for clarification: "Exactly what did you mean by the words — I had a car stolen?"

Contrary to contemporary trends of Political Correctness, it is the Speaker's intent of heart that ultimately determines the true "meaning" of particular communications — the same "meaning" that God knows and holds each individual accountable for (see 1 Samuel 16: 7; 1 Chron 28: 9). In the process of deciphering sounds and symbols, there are other important factors to consider.

You Can't Say What You Mean. The philosopher Frederich Nietzsche said this of language:

"Reality is captured in the categorical nets of language
only at the expense of fatal distortion."

Affirming a similar line of logic, Sir Francis Bacon stated:

"Words still manifestly force the understanding,
throw everything into confusion, and lead mankind
into vain and innumerable controversies and fallacies."

A broad definition of language includes all ways of communicating: both written and spoken words, vocal inflections, emotional expressions, body gestures, and every action that "says" something — which is ALL doings and deeds. For instance, the way we obtain and order our possessions (like houses, clothes, cars, and cuisine) has rich symbolic meaning; likewise, the way we relate to, and regard, plants, animals, and the land "says" something too.

Everything we do, say, and feel . . . expresses "meaning," expressions that reveal the core of the communicator. But all that is "meant" — via a myriad of sounds and symbols — requires interpretation by those who receive the meaningful expressions. Because of this, and here's a vital point: The Speaker's intended meaning is literally at the mercy of those who translate. So, it's hard to say what you mean when those who Receive are NOT "getting it," or possibly NOT wanting to "get it" — for purposes of propaganda or politics, or both.

In a precise and exact sense, you can't say what you mean anyway — at least not through a one-time attempt. For this reason, continuing conversation is required to double-check nuances of intended meaning; it is in the ongoing dialogue that meaning comes clear.

According to Jergen Habermas, language is the medium by which "meaning-makers" make meaning:

"language is the reservoir of tradition
and the medium in and through which we exist."

Because human beings are inherently social and expressive, we don’t merely "use" language, we "are" language! Life happens in language. This means, understanding the inherent properties of symbolic expression can expand our understanding of Self, and thus draw us closer to Self-fulfillment.

The Nature of Language

1 - People are meaning makers! Words are symbols that only have meaning as living beings negotiate and assign meaning to them. Words—in and of themselves—do not mean.

2 - During communicative exchanges of sending and receiving, words provide descriptive, definitional constraints that disallow certain meanings, and open up other possible meanings. Most words have more than one meaning or definition.

3 - Because any particular word, or string of words, will inevitably have more than one meaning, the sender of symbols can’t simply put accurate ideas directly into the mind of the receiver. One cannot convey accurate ideas using approximate symbols.

4 - Because our world experience is detailed, particular, and specific—and the words we use to describe it are categorical and approximate—a loss of meaning is unavoidable. Reducing the richness of directly-lived experience to a string of sounds or symbols inevitably leads to a loss of meaning; this unavoidable loss of meaning is called communicative entropy.

5 - Human beings often do not possess the competency to adequately use linguistic symbols to convey meaning; hence, the oft used phrase is invoked, "you woulda had to been there," as well as the worn cliché, "you know what I mean?"

6 - Even if people are very articulate with their word selection, words themselves cannot fully encapsulate the richness of reality. Words provide only approximate description as opposed to accurate description. Nevertheless, there is a degree of sufficiency that can be attained as a conversation patiently continues: "I see what you mean" or "I get it now."

7 - After speakers have done their best to send a series of symbols, receivers then try to understand the mind and meaning of the sender by translating that approximate set of symbols. The inevitable loss of meaning that occurs as translators extract incomplete ideas from a sound or symbol is called communicative ellipsis.

8 - In written communications, readers do not have the benefit of voice inflection, body gestures, or experiential context to more fully understand the intent of the author. (Changing Your Stripes, p. 76, 77)

Human Beings can overcome the inherent obstacles in language by patiently engaging in an ongoing conversation, where people elaborate and clarify, causing "meaning" to ring clear.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

The Largest Obstacle to Clear Communication: Self-Deception. Language is the very vehicle that facilitates understanding between human beings, but ironically, the nature of language creates obstacles to that understanding. Further, because mortals don't merely "use" language, they "are" language, this is why the problem of Self-Deception is the largest obstacle to clear communication:

"God shall send them strong delusion,
that they should believe a lie" (2 Thess. 2: 11)

The real occurrence of Self-Deception — believing a lie, but not having awareness that this is what you are doing — stands in the way of achieving clear and complete communication. Self Deception is the same phenomenon that Paul calls "blinded" and "blindness" (Rom. 11: 7, 25) and Jesus described as being "blind" (Matt. 15:14).

When a person is blind to the truth that comes from The Truth, logical reasoning is powerless to make that person un-blind. Certain truths cannot be understood intellectually. This is what Paul was trying to teach in these verses:

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady, highminded, . . . ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3: 1-4, 7).

There is only one way out of blindness: By reversing the process by which we became blind in the first place. As we admit mistakes and ask for God's forgiveness, "the spirit of God" will abide with us and thus our "eyes are open" (Numbers 24: 2-4) — Self-Deception is undone through heart-felt Repentance and Faith in the Lord.

Paul taught that only the pure can perceive the pure truths of God; whereas, those people who "are defiled and unbelieving" will have a "mind and conscience" that is also defiled (Titus 1: 15). It follows that any person with defiled and distorted perceptions, will be Self-Deceived — blind to God's truth, blind to perceiving Reality . . . as it IS.

Read more about Self-Deception — the problem that you don't think you have a problem.

* * * * * * *

The Greatest Prize
for Life's labors isn't
in material possessions
or impressive accomplishments,
but in the progress of personal character.
You labor for your own becoming, this is your richest reward.
Who You Become is your greatest possession,
make it your Masterpiece!
(Changing Your Stripes, 2nd Edition, page 274).

The book, "Changing Your Stripes" presents principles for getting out of
the ditch in which you've been dumped (the difficulties of which you are a victim), and
the ditch in which you've jumped (the difficulties for which you volunteer).

"Mastering a challenging situation
is ultimately a matter of
mastering yourself!"
- Matt Moody 

"Changing Your Stripes," teaches you the principles that lead to lasting change,
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If these principles resonate and ring true,
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Changing Your Stripes

Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor