Language

I'm currently faced with a bit of a problem. I have a letter from the Presidencia in the Republica De Chile, but I am unable to read it, because quite rightly, it is not written in English or Welsh.

That's a typical problem with communication, both parties have to interact, understand the matter, and actually listen. I recently wrote to someone that it don't matter how much you shake the tree, if you ain't listening - then you ain't listening and that is that.

Sometimes those barriers that interfere with effective listening aren't always of our own making. Sometimes something is said in mother tongue; but you simply do not understand. That doesn't necessarily mean that either party is speaking or writing a different language. No, far from it. Instead all too often people use words or phrases that simply don't make any sense. It could be that the receptor suffers from Dyslexia and the words move or are jumbled up. Or the receptor is a tad deaf. Or maybe the intended receiver doesn't exactly understand the words that are used. The words and the context don't add up, or the vocabulary simply isn't there. There is no understanding however much you move your hands or increase the volume at which you are speaking, or point at a phrase or a particular word on a page, or underline or over score the same or other words or phrases with a marker pen.

Although sometimes it is simply a case of; if you ain't listening - then you ain't listening and that is that.

No where was I, yes, the letter from the President of Chile. I want to read it, I really do. I am listening honest, but what on earth does it say. Maybe it is giving me a richly deserved humanitarian award. Or maybe recognising my services to community, my services to safety, and my services to International Relations. Or is it a tax bill, which would be strange as I pay far too much tax in the UK. Indeed from April I will be a 40% tax payer on my pension. No, I'm confident that the President wants to invite me on an all expenses paid trip to his lovely country, or maybe not. I simply do not know, and that is also a good point in respect of many things. All too often we really don't know until someone impartial points out the evidence or their impartial opinion of the matter under consideration. We think that we are getting an all expenses paid trip, when in fact it is a tax bill.

Meanwhile, lets hope that I bump into someone in Costa that can read the letter addressed to Senor Roger Bennett (with the required squiggly bit over the small letter 'n'). I want to listen, I really do. And I hope many others out there learn how to improve their listening skills. As this Blogger intends to keep shaking the tree.