We will now learn two powerful language models:
· The Milton model - vague language patterns, associated with the hypnosis.
· The Meta-model - dealing more with specific meaning and asking information gathering questions.
Artfully vague language
'Have you got the time?' A closed question like this one grammatically invites only a yes or no answer. Yet in practice it invariably elicits the time - the outcome or intention, no doubt, of the wrongly worded question. Interestingly, it usually gets a better response than the more precise 'Would you please tell the time?'. Likewise, 'Can you move to the left a bit?' produces a similar action response, instead of the yes or no answer it literally requests. And how many times has a salesperson got an appointment by asking 'Shall we make it Thursday or would you prefer earlier in the week?' The customer tends to focus on the apparent choice, when they really didn't want to commit to any date. These common examples illustrate the way vague or general language can bring about successful outcomes in situations where more precise, correct language might fail. Often, we use such language patterns, unaware of their linguistic vagueness but instinctively aware of the likely response they will get. Here we will consider a range of such language patterns that you can use purposefully (or deliberately) to bring about communication outcomes.
