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56
HERMANN KUHN
SUTRAS
Names and terms also comprise everything we associate with them, everything that is triggered within us when we hear a certain word. Names and terms include all the concepts and meanings that come to our mind and even all the emotions rising within us when we hear them.
Only in the most basic interactions does the mere naming of an object express all we mean. 'Please pass the salt' is an example of plain naming. As soon as we attempt to express more complex contents and need to combine meanings, then the mere naming, the mere mentioning or listing of all the components we want to convey hardly ever produces the intended comprehension.16
Communication is basically an attempt to coordinate and align the ideas and concepts different people associate with more complex contents. But contrary to common opinion only a small part of this mechanism involves the use of spoken words.
16 The question 'Who are you?' - as simple as it may sound, - is an exam
ple for the communication of complex contents. Is this just a request for your name or a thorough inquiry into your personal, professional, bodily and emotional situation? Does it express the hope for social contact? Is it an attempt to remind you of your innermost magnificent nature or only a casual greeting that can be answered by 'just passing through'?
Similarly complex might be the answer. Since all of us play many different roles in our life - the employee or boss, the lover, the husband or wife, the father or mother we are to our children, the expert we are in our special field, - we first have to identify the level on which to answer.
'Who are you?' said the Caterpillar.
Alice replied, rather shyly, 'I - I hardly know, Sir, just at present - at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.'
'What do you mean by that?' said the Caterpillar, sternly. 'Explain yourself!
'I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, Sir,' said Alice, 'because I'm not myself, you see.'
From ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
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