Fallacies in Usage

Unclear language can have direct negative consequences for the resolution of a dispute. If the protagonist fails to word his standpoint clearly and unequivocally at the confrontation stage, the antagonist may question it when there is no real need for him to question it, or he may not question it when he ought to question it. And if the wording used by the antagonist fails to make it understood that he is casting doubt on the protagonist’s standpoint, the protagonist may erroneously believe there to be no dispute. On the other hand the protagonist might also have the impression that there was a dispute when in fact there was none or that the dispute is mixed when in fact it is nonmixed. These misunderstandings may give rise to spurious agreements or disputes. ¹ In the case of a pseudo-agreement a discussion that is necessary may never take place, in the case of a pseudo-dispute there is a good chance that an unnecessary discussion will be conducted.