A fantastic video that explains why we often do not talk
directly what we mean, to friends, bosses, or peers. The video
is just 10 minutes, by Steven Pinker (b1954), a specialist in
psycholinguistics, at Harvard University. Here's some kinda
personal notes about the video. (won't make good sense if you
haven't watched the video.) We use indirect communication all
the time. Between friends, on a date, in work place, in
meetings… we leave open to others to pick it up and decided its
meaning. There are many reasons why we do this. Often, being
direct would be impolite, blunt, inappropriate, or even have
adverse consequences with respect to our intention when compared
to using indirect communication. • language does 2 things. ①
convey some content. ② negotiate a relationship type. According
to anthropologist Alan Fiske (UCLA), there are 3 major human
relationships. ① Dominance. (⁖ boss, employer) ② communality.
(family, close friends) ③ Reciprocity. (⁖ business relations)
Logic: Individual Knowledge vs Mutual Kno