Why we sometimes have problems with each others' posts...

[Hanify]

I just got told this in the weekend and it's sooooo interesting.  I've passed it on to the teachers at school cos it's an interesting linguistic thing anyway.  It shows why we misinterpret the way something has been said in a thread.  Often people are really surprised that someone else has taken offence and we often talk about how we can't see each others' faces.
The following sentence can be said with the stress on each of the words, and it completely changes the meaning each time.  Amazing.

I did not say she stole the money.

[willowtreewren]

Hanify, here is the sentence I use to drive home this point to my adult students:

I did not say you stole my red scarf.

There are so may ways to interpret that sentence. Thanks for the post.

[kitkatz]

THat is a lot like the question

Are you still beating your children?

How do you answer that one?

[peleroja]

I also think interpretation has a lot to do with the "baggage" we all bring with us from other sources.  It's easier to misinterpret when it hits close to or dead on a sore spot for someone.  Interesting exercise.

[dwcrawford]

It would be nice if we could communicate the old fashioned way... verbally and face to face.  Easier perhaps?

But then what would happen to facebook and twitter and texting and...

[del]

Even face to face things get taken the wrong way sometimes!!!

[Zach]

I did not say she stole the money.

Not only did she steal the money, but she denied it!   

[Bill Peckham]

This is interesting - people today  are writing more than maybe ever before, until the last ten or so years most people never had or wanted to write much after they left school.

I think people will learn to write less ambiguously, learn to communicate through the internets

In general I think it is wise  if something you read can be taken two ways and one way makes you mad - take it the other way.

[Jean]

Good point and that was a good post Hanify.