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BEYOND THE SURFACE
This is for the listener; this is for the reader.
Do not consider sayings or writings on surface levels - especially short ones, quotes and the likes.
Go an extra mile to seek, find and situate them in the right context intended by the speaker or writer; otherwise, you may never derive the actual message(s) they seek to pass across.
Contextual interpretation is key!
Read beyond just a few lines; listen beyond just a few sentences.
If you interpret a short quote (even a long one) without situating it in the right context, it looses it's essence, and the aim of the writer's communication is defeated.
Today, platforms abound, hence, many people say or write many things. Some may genuinely lack the skill that should ensure an effective communication of that which they have in mind, no matter how good those thoughts or ideas may be. Others may just want to be heard or read, even when they have nothing reasonable to say or write (yet). In a bid to sound or appear "deep", they may let out sentences that make no sense at all. You may never take note of the absence of sense if you do not scratch beyond surfaces and read in between lines.
In some of such cases, the simple truth is that those writings or sayings outrightly make no sense, even if you decide to objectively and magnanimously situate them in a thousand and one different contexts.
However, for those words that should make some sense, wrong interpretations on your part (especially out of intended contexts) may deprive you of making the most out of them.
This is where objectivity wears a crown.
You must be reasonably objective while trying to understand what someone has said or written. Seeking and discovering the context in which words are spoken or written is the first step towards gaining accurate understanding.
Resist the temptation of hinging interpretations on factors that tickle your bias, fantasy or grievance.
Short quotes/sentences may sound so amazing, especially when one is excited. They may sound annoying when one is agitated. But when things calm down, you may just realise that appropriating (making use of) them becomes a huge challenge, simply because you do not understand them.
You will find it difficult to gain accurate understanding if you do not interpret words and sentences contextually.
As you do this, arm yourself with objectivity, otherwise your exercise may end up in futility; and desired outcomes may never be achieved.
Go the extra mile. Listen some more; read some more, so you may have accurate understanding.
And if you ever have to respond to what is read or heard, do so only after you have gained accurate understanding.
This is for the listener; this is for the reader.
© Ogbole Agala
Do not consider sayings or writings on surface levels - especially short ones, quotes and the likes.
Go an extra mile to seek, find and situate them in the right context intended by the speaker or writer; otherwise, you may never derive the actual message(s) they seek to pass across.
Contextual interpretation is key!
Read beyond just a few lines; listen beyond just a few sentences.
If you interpret a short quote (even a long one) without situating it in the right context, it looses it's essence, and the aim of the writer's communication is defeated.
Today, platforms abound, hence, many people say or write many things. Some may genuinely lack the skill that should ensure an effective communication of that which they have in mind, no matter how good those thoughts or ideas may be. Others may just want to be heard or read, even when they have nothing reasonable to say or write (yet). In a bid to sound or appear "deep", they may let out sentences that make no sense at all. You may never take note of the absence of sense if you do not scratch beyond surfaces and read in between lines.
In some of such cases, the simple truth is that those writings or sayings outrightly make no sense, even if you decide to objectively and magnanimously situate them in a thousand and one different contexts.
However, for those words that should make some sense, wrong interpretations on your part (especially out of intended contexts) may deprive you of making the most out of them.
This is where objectivity wears a crown.
You must be reasonably objective while trying to understand what someone has said or written. Seeking and discovering the context in which words are spoken or written is the first step towards gaining accurate understanding.
Resist the temptation of hinging interpretations on factors that tickle your bias, fantasy or grievance.
Short quotes/sentences may sound so amazing, especially when one is excited. They may sound annoying when one is agitated. But when things calm down, you may just realise that appropriating (making use of) them becomes a huge challenge, simply because you do not understand them.
You will find it difficult to gain accurate understanding if you do not interpret words and sentences contextually.
As you do this, arm yourself with objectivity, otherwise your exercise may end up in futility; and desired outcomes may never be achieved.
Go the extra mile. Listen some more; read some more, so you may have accurate understanding.
And if you ever have to respond to what is read or heard, do so only after you have gained accurate understanding.
This is for the listener; this is for the reader.
© Ogbole Agala
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