Conversational Paradigm LO5822

Michael McMaster (Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk)
Thu, 22 Feb 1996 17:53:34 +0000

Replying to LO5640 --

David points at some useful ways of interpreting the work of Flores
and the more general work on action language and other distinctions
(ie Searle).

There is another important distinction that is not missed (at least
not completely) by Flores but is missing in most of those who have
been introduced to systems - computer or verbal or otherwise - based
on his work. The important distinction is "listening".

That is, speaking is not the key factor to focus on. The key focus
is much more powerfully listening. I listen for "Was a promise
intended?" rather than the form of the conversation. This is
particularly lost when the method of introduction is computer
systems. Not lost on Flores, but lost on those who use computer
systems. That is, the process of "listening" at the deeper level is
pretty much the same even though I'm reading.

Language is for thinking with, for generating, much more than for
"saying it right" because what is heard isn't what was said anyway.

Michael McMaster
Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk

-- 

Michael McMaster <Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk>

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>