We're more transparent than we think

Often I watch the Science channel and learn a great deal about the geology of the Earth. I find it fascinating to watch what the world looked like at different stages in its history. Frequently the channel will show that times of the Earth are based on the fossil record within the rocks of an area. It was just such a show that I found out that there was another ocean that predated the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Maine. The Atlantic is the second ocean to have touched Maine's shores. In fact, the first ocean predated the established timeline for the rocks along much of the coast of Maine, so the geologist proposing the second ocean idea had a great deal to prove. But, he did, and he did it with the fossil record.

Human language operates much like the geologic record. One can tell, for instance where in the world a person is from by his language. If the language is the same, then one tells by the dialect spoken. And, if the area is the same, then one can tell by other tonal features such as presence of drawl or by position of a vowel sound in the mouth. All of that is to say people have traces in their speech to identify them.

Even in the way people use language to interact with each other, traces of meaning are found everywhere in the language environment. It is not a mystery to know what others have meant with a statement made. Many statements are straightforward so that meaning is apparent automatically. But, many more times people use context of environment to show their meanings. For example, the word "forms" during the early spring months so many times is used to mean IRS forms since it is due April 15th. But, "forms" in early January and in late August spoken by a young adult probably means college forms. Of course, forms doesn't have to mean paper at all there are forms (shapes) in geometry and forms (shadows) in the dark. There are forms (molds) that plastic bottles come from and there are forms (condition) that people strive to be the best for. What is meant depends wholly on context. Many, many words are like "form," but contraintuitively, confusion does not result but traces are left that give meaning - time of year traces, age of speaker traces, level of education traces, native knowledge of language traces, and geographic location traces. Traces allow one to know meaning even if not present, but especially if present.

That's whay the filler expression, "You know what I mean," used on a recurring basis is so annoying to me. The answer is yes. Why would you speak to me in a way that you have to explain yourself further. That goes against conversational principles. But, mainly, listening for the cues or traces enables most native speakers of a language to know what is being meant. It's rare that a person could hide so much in an utterance that the other parties engaged with him or her would say, "I don't know what you mean."