ABSTRACT
Language is paradoxical. Intuitively, it is tempting to speculate that language developed to help people understand each other more easily and with speed. Certainly, it is the case that in our everyday lives we acquire our second-hand information through language, whether a friend tells us a story, we watch the evening news or browse the Internet. The paradox lies therein that language can also confuse. 37 The intention of the sender (the one speaking or writing) is not always understood by the receiver. There is hardly a need to illustrate this with an example: we can all think of instances where we have been misunderstood by those around us. There can be many reasons for such misinterpretations: expectations, assumptions and frame of reference may differ between sender and receiver, or they may simply differ in the meaning they ascribe to certain terms. It is a paradox that a tool designed to improve understanding between people can at times have the opposite effect, and lead to greater misunderstanding.
