What Shall We Sing?

A down-and out-musician was playing his guitar in the middle of a busy wharf.


Striding over, a policeman asked, “May I please see your permit?”


I don’t have one,” confessed the musician.


“In that case, you’ll have to accompany me.”


“Splendid!” exclaimed the musician. “What shall we sing?”

How often we assume that our listeners understand what we are trying to say. When that does not happen, we become confused as to what has gone wrong. It is always the responsibility of the encoder (the one who speaks) to make sure that his message is properly received by the decoder (the one who receives the message).