Post by marianne24 on Dec 7, 2017 3:11:55 GMT
Understanding a person, understanding a text
Butt says (p 19) that the concept of hermeneutic understanding suggests that understanding people is like understanding a text. He doesn't explain this simile at this point, but what ideas does it suggest to you? When you try to understand something that you are reading, particularly an article/book that is a bit ambiguous or unclear, what are some of the things that you do to try grasp the meaning? Do any of these strategies seem applicable for trying to understand a person? How so?
When trying to understand a complicated word, I try to look at the way the word is used in the sentence. I see to it that I understand the context of the sentence for me to be able to produce a meaningful definition. This procedure on revealing a desired meaning of word is applicable in trying to understand a person. In what way? For example, if I am talking to friend or any person, I see to it that I dont only focus on what he/she is saying, but I pay attention to the slightest gestures, facial expressions and attitude to understand him/her. It may not be a complete detailed explanation on how I understand teh person, but it contributes on how he/she appears to me.