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About this quote

What does it mean?
Learning proper language is useless if there is no audience who understands or values it.
In plain terms
Knowing how to speak well matters only if someone listens.
What can you take from it?
Communication requires a shared context between speaker and listener.

Where it applies

  • language learning
  • professional settings
  • cultural barriers

Putting it to work

  • assess audience needs
  • adapt speech style
  • find common ground

Questions to consider

  • Who is your intended audience?
  • Does your message matter to them?

Another view

Sometimes correct speech is necessary for credibility even without an immediate audience.

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