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Real Estate News and Advice |
December 4, 2009 |
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 A Funny Look At Word Misunderstandings
by Bill Koelzer
A sales contract is a legal document, thus you can read it to see whether the words and terms chosen are used in their proper context. In verbal communications, however, we sometimes hear only what we want to hear. That’s often when those clichéd “I said” --- “you said” verbal battles ensue. A hint: take time to define your words. If you are saying “them” be sure you use “them” only right after a proper noun that makes clear to your listener who “them” are… or is… or whatever. Just do it. If you are using a person’s name and there are many people known to both you and your listener with that same name, take time to define precisely which Jim, Bob, Fred, Jane or Clem you’re referring to. Use terms that can’t be mistaken or else you, too, could sound goofy like the two Oval Office pals in the clever play below on the ancient vaudeville bit made famous by Abbot and Costello, http://www.abbottandcostello.net/called “Who’s on First.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This has been attributed to playwright Jim Sherman who wrote
this after Hu Jintao was recently named chief of the Communist Party in China. I
have not been able to substantiate that, but it’s funny enough to pass along
anyway.
George: Now whaddya' asking me
for? Condi: You don't want Kofi.
Published: December 18, 2002 Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws. 
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Bill Koelzer is a Web marketing consultant to web-proficient agents nationwide. He is co-author, with Barbara Cox, Ph.D., of the Prentice-Hall books,