An exploration of the relation between language and our senses and emotions, taking readers into domains as diverse as wine-tasting, marriage guidance counselling, medical training and face recognition. The authors argue that language is a double-edged weapon, equally capable of clarifying and confusing. At best it provides no more than a fragile bridge between us, sustained by illusions we all share. Through language we can reconstruct experiences in a way far-removed from what we actually lived, feign understanding, hide what we actually feel, or talk with confidence about what we ill-understand.

American ed. issued under title: Language understanding.