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                                 %SYMBOLIC BEHAVIOR 861101

     Some   behavior   of  ours  is  not  intended  to  be
communicative,  even though it may communicate information
about us to others.  Other behavior of ours is intended to
be  communicative,  an  attempt  to convey  our  thoughts,
feelings,  perspectives,  etc.  to  others.   We  may   be
successful  or unsuccessful in conveying what we  wish  to
convey.   We   may    mislead, either   intentionally   or
unintentionally;  whether       through      intentionally
communicative  behavior or  unintentionally  communicative
behavior.

     Verbal language  is  but one kind of language.   Body
language   and   formal  sign  language  are  not   always
explicitly verbal.  Music is  a  language,  but  it is not
verbal.   Sexual  behavior  is  a language, but it  is not
always verbal.   Expressions of affection  are expressions
in a language,  whether sexual or not.  Any and all may be
misleading.   Recipients of  messages in any language have
to decide what to make of the messages which they receive;
how to respond to the messages; what difference to let the
messages make; what actions, if any to take.

     We do  not  take all behavior "literally".   Yet each
behavior communicates some  message.   We  consider taking
behavior   literally  only  if  we  regard  it  as   being
intentionally  communicative  behavior;  yet,  intentional
communications   are  most  likely  to  be   intentionally
misleading, and so appropriately open to suspicion.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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