Answering ‘What do you mean by that?’

Editor’s note: This is a reprinted column from Jack Purcell’s “On the Journey” archives. It originally appeared in The Star in 2013.

The response to the question used in the headline sometimes comes back to another question, such as, Why didn’t you hear what I meant?

The English language leaves room for potential misunderstandings which can be even more complicated with facial expressions, body language and tone of voice.