Dear team,
this email is written in reaction to Eric Lavarde's email, and on one topic
only: the importance of words in written comunnication.
Words are the only means of communication that we have, when communicating
in email. In face-to-face communication, further clues can be gained from
facial and postural signs; these are missing in email. Also, in a physical
context, the meaning of certain words could be disambiguated by the presence
of certain objects in the context and absence of others.
The communications stands and falls with the use of words. If one of us uses
words differently from what is accepted standard, the communication breaks
down; a misunderstanding is the result.
I can easily understand that we run into issues by writing in our non-native
tongues. This fact makes the clarification of terms even more important. The
clarification of terms is not what you would like to call a formality; it is
a precondition of mutual understanding.
If I speak of "responsibility" and mean "accountability", "answerability",
and "I am obliged to", while someone else speaks of "responsibility" and
means "authorization" and "I am allowed to", the result is a
misunderstanding. The contrast is as big as the one between right to do
something and duty to do something.
This is why I am usually nitpicking on what the words mean in their standard
meanings.
I can surely accept someone's proposal to use the term "responsibility" in a
new way. It has considerable drawbacks though. First, I have to keep two or
more sets of meanings associated with a given word: one which is standard,
and another one, which pertains only to the single person who has in effect
build her own, private language. Furthermore, when I want to speak of the
concept that originally had the name "responsibility", I have to look for
new names. Further disadvantages can be given.
For me, the concept of responsibility is key. This is why I might have lost
nerves when I have seen that concept misunderstood. For me, responsibility
means obligation, while authorization means allowance. The dictionaries and
books confirm my understanding of the word.
This is why I will try to clarify terms and words, to prevent
misunderstanding.
Best regards,
Dan
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