An exercise in miscommunication

[poconofishy]

This exercise is from a training course in business communications.
What does this sentence mean?

"I didn't say she took the money."



The answer is: We donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t know.

Say the sentence out loud. Emphasize the word in bold and hesitate before finishing the rest of the sentence.




"I didn't say she took the moneyââ"šÂ¬Ã‚
Translate as ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œnot ââ"šÂ¬Ã‹Å“itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢"šÂ¬Ã‚ = acknowledges someone may have made the statement, but it wasnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t me.

"I didn't say she took the money."
Translate as ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œdenialââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ = I did not make that statement.

"I didn't say she took the money."
Translate as ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œpartially correctââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ = I didnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t say the statement, ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦ but I wrote the statement.

"I didn't say she took the money."
Translate as ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œwrong personââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ = I didnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t say (Wilma) took the money, someone other than Wilma took the money, perhaps Betty took the money.

"I didn't say she took the money."
Translate as ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œincorrect actionââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ = she may have stole the money, or she may have left the money, she may have refused the money, but she didnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t take the money.

"I didn't say she took the money."
Translate as ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œspecificââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ = she took $20.00, not the specific money (for example, the $10,000 we need for the new car.)

"I didn't say she took the money."
Translate as ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œincorrect objectââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ = she took something else; she took the honey, not the money.

One small little sentence, numerous different interpretations

 

[Rhinecanthus]

Interesting. Thats why I find it so funny when people "fight" on the internet. There are a dozen ways to read something, or read into something, and a dozen ways some other guy will interpret it!

 

[Fizz71]

Yeah...that's why I TRY to use uppercase in my sentances when I think it's important to emphasize a certain word.

Of course....then I get trashed for YELLING when it's not really yelling.

--Fizz

 

[tnyr5]

use italics silly

 

[Barney121]

Heh, I love the example. For all we love the internet and the written word, it does invite problems sometimes!

 

[Fizz71]

Italics and bold get tossed out of some email clients.... And besides...with as much as I type sometimes holding the shift key for two seconds is MUUUUUCH easier than messing with tags.

--Fizz