Language and Relationships

Innuendo is indirect speech, it could also be called veiled speech.

The forms of communication where indirect speech is most often used are:

bribes
requests
seductions
solicitations
threats

Why are these veiled when both parties presumably know exactly what they mean? Because if you don't know what they mean, they don't work.
It turns out it's because we have to convey meaning while also negotiating a relationship type.

To do this people use language at two levels. They use the literal form to signal the safest relationship to the listener while counting on the listener to read between the lines to entertain a proposition that might be incompatible with that relationship

Vulnerability

We actually discussed this one before, in 2011, but I think it is a good follow up to last week's discussion.

One interesting thing about this video is that I've noticed it's consistently in the top ten suggested TED videos on the TED site, for quite a long time now. I think it's struck something in people.

Empathy, Motivation, Dishonesty

So, we're going to try a little experiment.

We're going to look at the premise of 3 separate RSA Animate talks, and spend a little time on each one.
Then, I'm hoping we can reflect on the three concepts together and see what we come up with in our concluding statements. Shall we try?


First up, is a video on empathy.
The Power of Outrospection