As you know, a word is just a sound or symbol that represents an idea. When we first learn a word or phrase, the meaning it is given often sticks with us even when it is used in another context. Let’s look at the word “mole” as an example.
Depending on the context, a “mole” can refer to an animal, a dark spot on your skin, a double agent, or a unit of measurement in chemistry. You probably learned the different meanings of “mole” at different times which means one meaning was learned first. That original meaning is much more solidified to the word since it has been synapsed to it for longer. If you first heard about the word as a dark spot but you read a book on spies, the conscious focus on the new meaning will further solidify, but the dark spot won’t be forgotten.
Within the Manual, there are bound to be some words and phrases that have multiple meanings. Words are nothing more than helpful tools to allow an idea to pass from me to you and the best way to do that is to make sure that we are both on the same page. Since our language works based on a recombination of words that might have many meanings, I’m going to take away some of the meanings of words that aren’t relevant to the Manual. By clarifying each phrase that I use, I intend to remove as much miscommunication as possible and allow you the clearest view of my intended message.
Speaking and writing are our main ways of communicating our intended ideas to others with as little miscommunication as possible. However, because we use a limited vocabulary, including words with multiple meanings, there is bound to be some confusion. Remember to look for the intention and don’t just fall back on your prior synapses to a term. It takes a little more work, but it can be worth it to prevent an idea from being lost in translation.