Without a possibility of change in meanings human communication

Opening Scene – Narrated by Host

The room was calm, bathed in the soft light of the late afternoon. Jack sat at the table, a notebook open in front of him, but his attention was focused elsewhere, his mind wandering. He stared at the words, his thoughts caught in a web of ideas about communication, meaning, and how people truly connect with one another.

Jeeny walked in, the quiet sound of her footsteps breaking the silence. She set down a cup of tea beside Jack, noticing the faraway look in his eyes.

Jeeny: “You seem a bit lost today. What’s on your mind?”

Jack blinked, snapping back to the present. He smiled faintly and picked up his tea, taking a slow sip before speaking.

Jack: “I was thinking about something Kenneth L. Pike said. He said, ‘Without a possibility of change in meanings, human communication could not perform its present functions.’ And it really got me thinking. How much of communication is about the flexibility of meaning? If meanings were static, if they didn’t change, how would we be able to understand each other in the way that we do now? How could we adapt to new contexts, new experiences?”

Jeeny sat down across from him, her eyes thoughtful as she listened. She wrapped her fingers around her own tea cup, considering his words.

Jeeny: “It’s such a profound idea, isn’t it? Communication isn’t just about words or phrases; it’s about how those words evolve, how meanings shift depending on the context, the culture, the person we’re speaking with. We’re constantly adapting the meaning of what we say to make sure it’s understood by the other person. Without that flexibility, communication would be so much more limited, don’t you think?”

Jack: “Exactly. If we couldn’t change the meanings, if language wasn’t fluid, how would we communicate anything beyond the most basic, literal concepts? Language would become rigid, unable to express the nuance, the complexity, the emotion that we rely on in everyday communication. It would lose the richness it has.”

Host: The conversation deepened, as Jack realized that the power of communication didn’t just lie in the words themselves, but in how those words could shift and change, how they could take on new meanings depending on the situation. Without this flexibility, human communication wouldn’t be able to adapt to new contexts or new experiences.

Jeeny: “It’s almost like language is a living thing, constantly changing to fit our needs. And because we’re always experiencing new things, discovering new perspectives, language must be able to evolve with us. It’s not just about what we say—it’s about how those words evolve over time, how they reflect our growth, our challenges, and our understanding of the world.”

Jack: “Yeah, and think about how much meaning can change depending on tone, body language, or the setting. The same words can mean different things depending on who’s saying them, when they’re being said, and where. If meanings didn’t have that fluidity, how would we ever communicate things like love, anger, or empathy? Those are so dependent on context.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. Communication isn’t just about delivering information—it’s about connecting, understanding, and adapting to each other. And it’s in those changes, those shifts in meaning, that we can truly share our experiences and ideas. Without that ability to change and adapt, communication wouldn’t be able to fulfill its purpose of connecting us with others.”

Host: Jack sat back, the weight of the conversation settling in. He realized that the true power of communication lay not in the fixed definitions of words, but in the way those words could adapt and evolve. It was the flexibility of meaning that allowed people to truly connect with one another, to understand each other in deeper, more meaningful ways.

Jack: “I think what I’m understanding is that communication isn’t about finding fixed meanings—it’s about embracing the fluidity of meaning. It’s about recognizing that words change, adapt, and grow with us, so that we can continue to connect with each other in an ever-evolving world.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s that adaptability that makes communication so powerful. If meanings were fixed, we would never be able to keep up with the way the world is changing. Language has to evolve, just like we do. It’s what keeps us connected, keeps us understanding each other.”

Climax and Reconciliation

The room felt lighter now, the weight of their conversation lifting as Jack and Jeeny reflected on the true nature of communication. It wasn’t about the words themselves, but about the meaning behind them, the way they could shift and adapt to reflect new experiences, new understandings. Communication was alive, just like language itself, and it was through that adaptability that people could truly connect with one another.

Jack: “So, maybe the beauty of communication is in its constant change. It’s in how we use language to adapt to new situations, to express new emotions, to connect with others in ways that words alone can’t fully capture.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. And by embracing that fluidity, we open ourselves up to deeper connections, to richer conversations, to understanding that’s more than just surface-level. Communication is how we grow, how we evolve, how we truly connect.”

Host: The room felt more peaceful now, as the weight of their conversation settled into a new understanding. Outside, the world continued its rhythm, but inside, Jack and Jeeny had discovered something deeper about communication—that it wasn’t just about the words, but about the constant evolution of meaning that allowed people to truly connect, share, and understand each other.