Communication is tremendously important.   If what you say is not clearly understood by the other person there is really no affective communication, but miscommunication.   Here is a communication test for you.   It may not be as easy as it first appears. 

A friend of yours and another person comes to you and says, "Linda said you said that Jack is stupid".   And you say, "I didn't say he was stupid!"    Not counting body language there are six different ways your statment can be interpreted.

This statement is shown six times below.   Each one emphasizes a different word.   Say the sentence out loud place the emphasis on the word in parentheses.   Then write what you believe is being said.

Try this test:

Read each sentence putting the emphasis on the word that is bold.  Then write down below the sentence what you think is being said.

I didn't say he was stupid!

I didn't say he was stupid!

I didn't say he was stupid!

I didn't say he was stupid!

I didn't say he was stupid!

I didn't say he was stupid!

Here are the correct interpretations:

I didn't say he was stupid! - Says you didn't say he was stupid, but leaves the impression someone else did.

I didn't say he was stupid! - You are strongly responding to what you feel is an accusation by making it emphatic that you did not say it.

I didn't say he was stupid! - Makes the statement that you didn't say he was stupid, but you certainly think he is.

I didn't say he was stupid! - Says you said someone was stupid, but you didn't say Jack was.

I didn't say he was stupid! - Communicates you did say he has been stupid in the past, but that he is now.

I didn't say he was stupid! - Is saying you didn't say he was stupid, but you did say he was (some other descriptive word).

Just seeing the words makes it tough to determine the meaning.   This is why facial looks, hand jestures, body posture, voice inflection, and volume are important contributors to communication.  

For some communication humor that has some truth in it, click here.