The Other Meaning

"In West Africa cow milk is expensive" was excerpt of a text a friend was asked to read in class during our Junior Secondary School days. We giggled and laughed naughtily at how she rendered the text, perhaps because it sounded funny and seem to add an unwarranted flavour to the intended meaning of the text.

We equally make meanings of words based on our system of socialisation. Our society and environment certainly play a role in helping us make meaning of life.

It is a fact that no two people have the exact meaning for a symbol, gesture and words which is influenced by our experiences and exposures.

Fisher & Adams (1994) were apt in their observation that there are intended meanings and psychological meanings as well as social meaning or negotiated meanings.

Besides, there are also literal meanings, contextual meaning, unintended meaning and emotional meanings. Others may include religious meanings, political meanings, spiritual meanings, cultural meanings, historical, scientific and technological meanings.
There may even be unperceived meanings or silent meanings that we communicate daily, which we may not even know but we have a subtle duty to take note of.

Whatever meaning we make of these meanings, we have a responsibility to understand that there are other meanings we should be mindful of in our communication.

I trust your day went well?
Greetings

#KYB ✍🏿®#