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     As a society coalesces and as its members become
familiar with the language that unites them into a
functioning organism, that organism, its function, and the
language that makes function possible are taken for granted.
Yet even in the ordinary course of experience
misunderstanding arises. Propositions are put forth,
sentences are spoken which are misunderstood in the sense
that they lead to disagreement, or which are not understood
at all and lead to the disintegration of the social
structure. 

     When one scrutinizes the processes by which
understanding comes abouts, one recognizes that it is not the
coalescence of independently existing concepts, it is a
sharing, indeed a fusion of experience which gives language a
meaning that is not ambiguous and thereby creates unanimity
and understanding.

     With respect to such understanding, the reading and the
interpretation of books creates a special situation, and
creates special problems.

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Copyright 2006, Ernst Jochen Meyer
