Confusion in a Conversation

By Aiermytch Rotoni

A statement, if you put your mind into it, may have a meaning that is on a wholly different level from what the speaker
had meant to say. Especially if the listener has a very active and, I dare say, imaginative mind.

Some people are contented with the conversations that they have and its, supposed, real meaning. They do not bother to
put much effort in deciphering and analyzing the content of the sentence. They are contented with what comes to mind. In
addition, with what the most possible meaning is.

However, with some people, they consider that way of thinking and conversation as somehow boring and lifeless. And
with that reason in mind, they “twist and rack” their brains to find a possibly different meaning that would bring life to the
conversation and possibly give a new angle to the view a person has. But because this, whether one does it intentionally or
unconsciously, the persons engaged in the conversation, most likely the listener, may misunderstand and become
confused.

Let us take this situation as an example:

John (Native-English Speaker): “I couldn’t agree with you more.”

Chen (Native-Chinese Listener): “Oh…” (Thinking: He couldn’t agree with me? I thought he liked my idea!”)

In the exchange of words, in the given situation, confusion takes place. The confusion started with the choice of words
that John, the native-English speaker, picked.

“I couldn’t agree with you more.”

This statement can have another meaning besides the one that it should normally have. The listener may think that way
especially if he or she is not familiar with the way the statement works. If the listener were only familiar with the basic
English format, he or she would be in a great disadvantage.

Looking at John’s statement, it may have meant the following: “I cannot agree with you.” Or ”You are so right.”
Basically, a statement has two angles: positive and negative. And this is what a speaker should think about before saying
anything. Will it leave the right impression? Will he/ she understand what I had meant to say with those words?

John, the speaker, should have considered the fact that he is talking to a person who is not very familiar with how the
English language works. He could have chosen: “You are so right.” Or “I agree.” Or even, “That’s right.” These
sentences have a more direct meaning. Therefore, it is easy to understand and will not need much analyzing. But if the
speaker is careless and/or impulsive on words, he/she could cause confusion.

The confusion in the exchange of words originated from the speaker when he said, “I couldn’t agree more” because I
believe that the speaker holds the thread of the conversation. It started when the speaker stated his statement non-
specifically. John didn’t think about what he said much when he had his conversation with Chen, assuming that Chen had
understood. And this is the reason why one should think before saying anything. If the speaker was to say anything
unnecessary, it could stop the conversation just like that. Snap!

So, if the speaker should want to avoid a communication breakdown, he/she should make sure that his/her listener would
easily understand the words he/she would say.

All in all, the confusion in the given conversation originated from the speaker and his choice of words.