Noticing how the same words can mean different things depending on how a person interprets them.
Exploring the difference between the literal meaning of a word or phrase and the meaning the speaker intends.
Considering how misunderstandings happen when people interpret language differently.
Recognising that what sounds like an obvious instruction to one person may need more explanation for another.
Exploring how misunderstandings can be repaired through clarification and patience.
Jen is hosting a dinner party and has invited her workmates Roy, Moss, and Richmond to arrive early so she can brief them on how to behave. She tells them to keep the conversation to topics that would interest everybody. Her friends keep interpreting her instructions literally and misunderstand her meaning. The scene ends with Jen exasperated as her instructions are misunderstood one after another.
• What did Jen mean when she said to avoid talking about memory or RAM?
• Why do you think Moss responded the way he did?
• Can you think of a time when you took something literally that was not meant that way?
• Can you think of a time when someone else took your words more literally than you intended?
• What other things did Jen say that Moss interpreted literally?
• What could Jen have said differently to make her meaning clearer?
• How do you usually figure out what someone really means when their words could mean more than one thing?
• What might help when a misunderstanding like this happens in a real conversation?
The questions within this guide are designed to open dialogue and facilitate discussion around the relevant topics. It is up to the user to adapt as needed to best suit the person they are supporting. A neuroaffirming approach was central to the design of these resources and remains essential to their application. This means recognising and respecting the diverse ways people think, communicate, and experience the world, ensuring all conversations are led with curiosity, respect, and without judgement. These resources are a starting point. Trust your knowledge of the person you are supporting to shape the conversation from there.
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