The gap opens up between individuals talking to each other , when one tries for precision,and other tries for ambiguity, and it will inevitably lead to a degree of polarization.

That almost happened between us you know? I totally misunderstood you and projected a meaning onto your words that simply wasn't there.

However with a slice of humble pie and some videos shown to me by my friend @bleepcoin, I realised (I think) where you were coming from.

I'm sure Shakespeare (or whoever), didn't write to confuse his audience, and his delivery in his plays would have just been a 'normal' usage of words..

It's funny you should say that, there is a series on in the UK at the moment called Upstart Crow, starring one of my favourite comics, David Mitchell.

Anyway they make fun of the fact that even in Shakespeare's time they would have found it difficult to follow him. I think it's more than just a joke, they've looked at sample texts from the period and found that nobody spoke like that.

I'm sure they've pushed the joke as far as they can for comic effect, however it's an interesting thought that he was just as convoluted and inaccessible in Elizabethan times as he is today!

Cg