The trouble of language

Words have different meaning to different people.

Words have different weight to different people.

Words have different associations to different people.

Words have different emotions to different people.

Words change over time.

What are words?

What is meaning?

How do I know you understand my words the way I intend their meaning to be?

How do I know I understand your words the way you intend their meaning to be?

Although it is tempting to philosophize towards existential loneliness, as a result of the sheer impossibility to proof an objective meaning of language, daily life contradicts such:

• I do get the groceries I ask for
• we do simultaneously laugh about something, then recognize the same reason for humor, after which we laugh again, for the same reason
• scientific results can be repeated
• Etc.

The basis for understanding is recognition. When we understand, we smile. We feel understood. How do we know we are understood? What is recognized?

• We recognize each others observations
• We recognize each others feelings
• We recognize each others meaning, by being able to continue each others line of thoughts
• Etc.

If we really cannot understand each other, how are these things possible?