Here's why:
* Shared knowledge: This includes cultural norms, societal conventions, and common understandings. For example, a red traffic light means "stop" because we all share this understanding.
* Shared experience: This involves personal and collective experiences that shape how we interpret symbols and words. For example, the word "home" evokes different emotions and memories depending on individual experiences.
Here's a breakdown of how these factors apply to different types of meaning:
Symbols:
* Cultural meaning: Symbols like flags, religious icons, or gestures often hold significant meaning within a specific culture.
* Personal meaning: Individuals can also assign their own personal meanings to symbols based on their experiences.
Actions:
* Social context: Actions can have different meanings depending on the situation. For example, a handshake can signify greeting, agreement, or even a threat.
* Individual intent: The intended meaning behind an action is important for understanding its significance.
Words:
* Lexical meaning: The dictionary definition of a word.
* Connotative meaning: The emotional associations and subjective interpretations of a word.
* Contextual meaning: The meaning of a word can change depending on the context in which it is used.
Ultimately, understanding meaning is a complex process that involves a combination of shared knowledge, personal experience, and contextual interpretation.