Language is deceptive by nature. Language is deceptive because it is imprecise and ambiguous, but we as humans are not often aware of this fact or it has slipped our minds (often we are merely too busy to worry about it). Because we are unaware of the deceptive nature of language, we take concepts behind the words we use for granted and we do not have clear thinking because of this. For instance, when you use the word ‘valid,’ what do you mean? Take a second and think of what you mean by that word. Do you have a clear idea or is your idea fuzzy? Or do you have no idea at all? It is likely that you have some idea of what you mean when using the word ‘valid,’ but you do not have an exact understanding. You want to have clear thinking, but clear thinking? This example helps demonstrate why language is deceptive. If we do not have a clear understanding of what words we are using, we are not thinking clearly, and, as a result, we are not thinking well. If you do not really know what you are talking about, how can you think well?
Language further complicates our lives when it comes to conversations. Just because someone is using the same word as I am, does not mean that person understands what I mean by using the word. Let us use the example of ‘valid’ again. Think of what you mean when you use that word (hopefully you’ve got some idea). Now, when I define the word, I am referring to either arguments or science. When referring to arguments, I use the word to refer to whether an argument has been put together in an appropriate way so as not to contain any logical errors (this does not mean the argument is true). When referring to science, I am specifically referring to tests used in science and whether those tests measure what they are supposed to. You may have perhaps defined valid the first way I did, but even small variations in what we both mean cause miscommunications.
This is why I say language is deceptive. It is foggy and inexact, and because we may not be able to think outside language, we struggle to see our own errors and pitfalls in our own use of language.