Survival Talk

The following is part of my ongoing effort to encourage more satisfying and productive talk.

For me, much of the best talk is about meaning. When I here certain others speak of meaningful talk they often use the word 'coherence.' I'm not always sure what they mean by 'coherence.' To cohere seems to stick together. Stickiness doesn't necessarily lead to satisfaction and productivity, does it? Well, I do often find that meaning that holds together more satisfying than meaning that falls apart. Can it be that is all they mean? I wonder what Merriam and other dictionary people have to say.

Well, stick together seems to be the main deal. My old blue dictionary also adds that cohere means to to become united in principles, relationships, or interests. Unity has frequently turned out to be productive. Talk that led to unity and relationships based on principles and common interests would be okay with me. The same dictionary adds that to be coherent is to be logically or aesthetically consistent. So, they may think that talk that is reasonable, is not ugly, and and is not contradictory is likely to be more productive and satisfying. Seems good, but how likely is it? You probably have some skills that make good talk more likely.

I does seem to me that meaningful and coherent' go together. In satisfying and productive talk we need not begin by accepting or rejecting that 'meaning' and 'coherence' go together. We do't ave to end with that acceptance either. However it may be interesting to discover what te guy who says that is talking about.