Thursday, December 7, 2006
Few months ago, I posted an article about the misunderstandings and confusion that often occur when communicating by e-mail.
Because a picture is worth thousands words, here is a pie chart resulting from research done in the sixties:
The percentages describe the importance of the effect an attribute has on a the receiver of the communication (in a work environment). Because body language (non-verbal) and tone of voice are definitely not conveyed in an e-mail, it easy to see why e-mails are easily misunderstood (SMS is worst, but that’s another story). As a byproduct it also justify the existence of smileys.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
I studied them when I was learning english. It’s kind of cliché now but it always brings me a laugh when I come across them 
Syntactically Ambiguous Headlines
1. British Left Waffles on Falkland Islands
2. Dr. Ruth to Talk about Sex with Newspaper Editors
3. Lung Cancer in Women Mushrooms
4. Teacher Strikes Idle Kids
5. Stud Tires Out
6. Soviet Virgin Lands Short of Goal Again
7. Shot Off Woman’s Leg Helps Nicklaus to 66
8. Reagan Wins on Budget, but More Lies Ahead
9. Enraged Cow Injures Farmer with Axe
10. Miners Refuse to Work after Death
11. Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim
12. Juvenile Court Tries Shooting Defendant
13. Stolen Painting Found by Tree
14. Killer Sentenced to Die for Second Time in 10 Years
15. Drunk Drivers Paid $1,000 in 1984
16. Grandmother of Eight Makes Hole in One
17. Stiff opposition expected to casketless funeral plan
18. Two Convicts Evade Noose, Jury Hung
19. Squad helps dog bite victim
20. Dealers will Hear Car Talk at Noon
21. Enraged Cow Injures Farmer with Ax
22. Milk Drinkers are Turning to Powder
23. NJ Judge to Rule on Nude Beach