Do you really understand what others say..?

India
December 25, 2010 1:07am CST
During my conversions with others many times I felt that I have not correctly understood what the other person said.I give a reply and later I realise that I have not given correct reply.I wonder whether it is my fault of not understanding properly or the fault of the other person for not expressing himself or herself correctly or properly.The matter may be trivial yet the damage is done.I found the other person misunderstanding me for my reply which is not intentional.Therefore I feel that the person who is talking should correctly express himself or herself and the person listening should correctly understand what the other person is saying.Otherwise one is likely to in a mess like me.Am I correct..?
8 responses
@krajibg (11922)
• Guwahati, India
25 Dec 10
Hi, There are two things involved here. First thing if you are conversing in the same language that you both share as a common language and secondly if both of you are using a different tongues. In the first instance there is least possibility of misunderstanding for both the addresser and the addressee know the component of the language and in case you miss some point you can easily ask what the speaker is trying top say but in the later situation out of embarrassment of the like we often pretend of getting things what the speaker says to us and finally end up taking up something for something else.
@krajibg (11922)
• Guwahati, India
25 Dec 10
Yes, I agree to your point. Many time it so happens that we are talking to somebody and our mind is wandering elsewhere. There is possibility of misunderstanding. To avoid such situation it is advised that if you are not fully yourself do not make your conversation longer or pretend that you have an urgent meeting or something other important job.
• India
26 Dec 10
Thank you for your valuable suggestion.It may work to a large extent.I shall give a trial to your suggestion..HAPPY NEW YEAR.
• India
25 Dec 10
What I mean to say is even when we are conversing with each other in the same language still it is possible for various other reasons besides the language.When your mind is elsewhere while talking with some one you are likely to miss what the other person is saying and you may reply something not relevant to what you are talking with the other person.Similarly when your attention is drawn by sudden incident you may not hear the other person properly and you may say something irrelevant.This happens to many people many times particularly for absent minded people..
• China
25 Dec 10
Whether you listened absent-mindedly or not ? If that you were lacking in respecting for others.I wish the opposite.
• India
26 Dec 10
You mean to say that such things happen when you have no respect for the person you are conversing with.It may be true sometimes but not always.Whether you respect the other person or not if your mind is else where there is every possaibility of your giving in appropriate reply.That is what I feel...HAPPY NEW YEAR..
• China
27 Dec 10
If what I say have no respect for others is sort of arbitrary decision? Of course ,sometimes it has something to do with speaking incoherently of others.
@visavis (5934)
• Philippines
25 Dec 10
Yes I think it is normally happening to all of us, but sometimes when I trying to convey my message to someone and I notice not understand trying to para-phrase my wordings in order to get my ideas.. specially when critical and important information to be convey... see you around
• India
25 Dec 10
Yes I agree.It can happen when the other person is a stranger or when weare discussing something technically important.We are likely to fail to follow the discussion and that may lead to our giving inapropriate answers.It may be that we don't have communiction skills and sometimes appropriate words do not come readily to the mind.Like that there are so many reasons.Better to be careful while talking..
@calpro (930)
• India
26 Dec 10
Hi friend, It mostly happens with all of us because we have not been good listeners at that point of time. Good listening is not just hearing but concentrating our mind on the ongoing discussion. we tend to lose this because of several reasons like, the topic must be boring or the person must be boring etc. So our mind takes it decision and wanders somewhere so we will not be able to answer the right answer to the question. It happens with me sometimes in meetings mainly post lunch session. To avoid this is to keep your self attentive and concentrate to be a good listener. Happy Living Calpro
• United States
26 Dec 10
I agree with you, I frequently meet the people like that.
@debs90 (547)
• India
25 Dec 10
I too have some difficulty in understanding some people's conversations. Some of them speak in very low volume, some have very bad accents. But, I have to reply them. I take a decent approach when I face this kind of situations. From the beginning I speak very less. Only speak when I can understand them properly. But, when some of them tells Why are you so quiet? I have my answer prepared No Sir! I think that good speakers are those who are good listeners. LOLZ... Merry Christmas.......
• India
25 Dec 10
yes it also happens with me. sometime when we answer to other's question it is not completely conveyed due to not completely describing them or due to lack of expression sometime. most of the time misunderstanding happens due to not giving proper attention to discussion.so be cautious and attentive when you give answer.
@visavis (5934)
• Philippines
25 Dec 10
Additionally my friend when the two people are defferent languages their known, which I experience here in my work abroad which their native language is very hard to understand... which sometimes need internpreter... see you around
• India
25 Dec 10
This happens to many people nmany times.It may be that our mind is else when we are conversing with others and we may not be able to follow the thread.Sometimes we realise and come to the present and immediately correct ourselves.But the damage is done by that time. When you are in the present and attentive such mistakes can be avoided.All the best...
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
25 Dec 10
that is what is called to be a barrier to communication... that's why we need to always clarify with the other party about what is he/she saying if you don't understand the meaning to prevent the misunderstanding... take care and have a nice day...
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
25 Dec 10
if you do not pay attention.. or if you actually have something else in mind.. im sure this will happen.. that you won't completely understand someone.