What must a communicator's words have in order to convey the intended meaning?

For effective communication, it is essential that the communicator's words are aligned with the meanings that the receiver understands. This means that the words must resonate with the receiver's experiences, backgrounds, and knowledge base. When the communicator frames their message in a way that connects with what the receiver already knows, it facilitates comprehension and enhances the likelihood that the intended meaning is conveyed accurately.

The importance of prior experience is critical; if the receiver lacks familiarity with the concepts being discussed, they may misinterpret or miss the core message entirely. This shared understanding forms the backbone of successful exchanges, where context and shared knowledge play pivotal roles in the communication process.

While meaningful referents and alignment with the receiver's mind are important aspects of communication, they ultimately depend on the receiver's ability to connect the new information to their existing knowledge and experiences. Without that prior experience, even well-crafted words might not achieve the desired effect of conveying meaning accurately.