7-Words are important

Definition: Words are important At a minimum, the ECUSA® Compendium-Glossary ("the CG") is a mutual agreement between writers and readers about what the Special Terms it contains mean. Why is this agreement important? The words one uses in (1) Conversation, (2) writing and other forms of Communication are important. They help convey meaning from the speaker/communicator to the listener/receiver. If there is no mutual, prior agreement between the parties about the definition of the words the speaker/communicator uses, the listener/receiver may misunderstand what the speaker/communicator means and/or the speaker/communicator may manipulate the listener/receiver. Having never mutually agreed on the exact meaning of the words the speaker/communicator uses, the speaker/communicator could use words in such a way that the listener/receiver would be led to believe the speaker/communicator means this, yet later the speaker/communicator could claim that he or she really meant that – which could be substantially different. Who could argue with the speaker/communicator? There was no prior, mutual agreement about the meaning of the words the speaker/communicator used in the first instance. Listener/receivers tacitly invite speaker/communicators to speak/communicate however they please if listener/receivers only listen/receive. The chances for this unhappy outcome is greatly multiplied when the speaker is not physically present to be scrutinized by the audience member(s) but rather conveys his or her message through writing or other forms of Communication. Diplomats, politicians, pundits, novelists, actors, entertainers, advertisers and others do this sort of verbal sleight of hand frequently. Ambiguity and even deceit may have its place, but not here - not among the Users of the CG. ◊