--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The actual communicative value of what we…" description: "\"The actual communicative value of what we say is usually quite small. I've lived for times in small, isolated fishing villages, where everyone knows ev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/hal-whitehead-26990_program_the-actual-communicative-value-of-what-w_2883596.jpg" --- # The actual communicative value of what we say is usually… ![“The actual communicative value of what we say is usually quite small. I've lived for times in small, isolated fishing villages, where everyone knows everyone each other and everyone knows what's going on and everyone's watched the same TV programs and, really, there's not a whole lot of new…” quote by Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/hal-whitehead-26990_program_the-actual-communicative-value-of-what-w_2883596.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/hal-whitehead-26990_program_the-actual-communicative-value-of-what-w_2883596.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/hal-whitehead-26990_program_the-actual-communicative-value-of-what-w_2883596.jpg) > “The actual communicative value of what we say is usually quite small. I've lived for times in small, isolated fishing villages, where everyone knows everyone each other and everyone knows what's going on and everyone's watched the same TV programs and, really, there's not a whole lot of new information to convey. But there's still a lot of talking. What's said doesn't seem to matter; that you say it, and who you say it to, and how you say it is what matters.” [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The content of speech matters less than the act of speaking, the audience, and delivery style. **In simple terms:** How you say and to whom matters more. Key Takeaway Focus on delivery and audience. Themes communication context delivery Mood thoughtful analytical Type observational insightful When to use this quote - team meetings - family gatherings - public speaking - online forums Key Concepts sociolinguistics interpersonal dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What makes a message truly matter? - How can we improve our delivery? A Different Perspective Message substance can still be crucial in critical decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actual Communicative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actual-communicative-4010001/) [Communicative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communicative-1526144/) [Communicative Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communicative-value-4010000/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Say Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-matters-380100/) [Talking Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-said-1578631/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [I can be seen as not being very communicative, or rather mysterious, or distant, or rather cold - all those things. Yeah, I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-rampling/i-can-be-seen-as-not-being-very-communicative-or-rather-mysterious-or/) [Charlotte Rampling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-rampling/) > [Perfection is not very communicative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/perfection-is-not-very-communicative/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [ ...\[W\]ords can be communicative only between those who share similar experiences. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/w-ords-can-be-communicative-only-between-those-who-share-similar/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are always communicative problems when you play football. It is part of the game. It is a problem you need to solve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demba-ba/there-are-always-communicative-problems-when-you-play-football-it-is/) [Demba Ba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demba-ba/) > [Complexity can be a trap. You can have a ball developing a phrase, inverting it, playing it in different keys and times and all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-desmond/complexity-can-be-a-trap-you-can-have-a-ball-developing-a-phrase/) [Paul Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-desmond/) > [“He had learned that sometimes, watching someone work or standing beside them, looking at stars or at bugs or at a sunset, was far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/he-had-learned-that-sometimes-watching-someone-work-or-standing/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [I have always been communicative. I can't help it if I have been misunderstood. Sometimes, people don't like straight answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-azharuddin/i-have-always-been-communicative-i-can-t-help-it-if-i-have-been/) [Mohammad Azharuddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-azharuddin/) > [When persons are present to one another they can function not merely as physical instruments but also as communicative ones. This possibility, no less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erving-goffman/when-persons-are-present-to-one-another-they-can-function-not-merely/) [Erving Goffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erving-goffman/) > [Art is not communicative, art is not reflexive. Art, science, philosophy are neither contemplative, neither reflexive, nor communicative. They are creative, that's all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilles-deleuze/art-is-not-communicative-art-is-not-reflexive-art-science-philosophy/) [Gilles Deleuze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilles-deleuze/) > [Directing is a constant test of your communicative powers. You're constantly trying to explain people your vision of what you want and steer these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/directing-is-a-constant-test-of-your-communicative-powers-you-re/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [“unusually communicative in a reserved way, and I understood that he meant a great deal more than that. In consequence I’m inclined to reserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/unusually-communicative-in-a-reserved-way-and-i-understood-that-he/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [I definitely learned a lot about how to be more communicative with my crews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/i-definitely-learned-a-lot-about-how-to-be-more-communicative-with-my/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) > [Communicative skills develop when there's something meaningful for children to communicate about-when they are taking an active role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-katz/communicative-skills-develop-when-there-s-something-meaningful-for/) [Lilian Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-katz/) > [“You're very perceptive for a guy who can go a whole day without talking,” she said, peering up at him. “That's why I'm perceptive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-re-very-perceptive-for-a-guy-who-can-go-a-whole-day-without/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Unless I’m talking on it,” I said, “I leave this thing turned off.” “Saving the battery?” “Guarding my privacy.” “You’re the poster boy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/unless-i-m-talking-on-it-i-said-i-leave-this-thing-turned-off-saving/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) ## More by Hal Whitehead > [Studying the behavior of large whales has been likened to astronomy. The observer glimpses his subjects, often at long range; he cannot do experiments,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/studying-the-behavior-of-large-whales-has-been-likened-to-astronomy/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [But one thing that seems pretty clear when we look at human religion is that it's highly tied in with human culture. So if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/but-one-thing-that-seems-pretty-clear-when-we-look-at-human-religion/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [We believe we're seeing, in other animals, a process, or an attribute, that isn't fundamentally different from what we see in humans, so it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/we-believe-we-re-seeing-in-other-animals-a-process-or-an-attribute/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [Whales are cultural animals, and we're cultural animals, so although we shouldn't expect whales to do what we do, it doesn't seem unreasonable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/whales-are-cultural-animals-and-we-re-cultural-animals-so-although-we/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [What I mean by it, and roughly what most biologists who talk about culture mean by it, is either behavior itself, or information that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/what-i-mean-by-it-and-roughly-what-most-biologists-who-talk-about/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [Culture is not usually one of the criterion for personhood, but it has been argued that culture is sort of a medium for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/culture-is-not-usually-one-of-the-criterion-for-personhood-but-it-has/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [Conversation with animals could happen, but I think it would be easier for it to happen with creatures we share a bit more with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/conversation-with-animals-could-happen-but-i-think-it-would-be-easier/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [Religion's pretty pervasive in humans. And why it's pervasive in humans is debated a lot. There are indications of things that look like religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/religion-s-pretty-pervasive-in-humans-and-why-it-s-pervasive-in/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [Humans are particularly interesting; our culture is incredible, there's no doubt about that. In many respects, no other species matches ours. But in quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/humans-are-particularly-interesting-our-culture-is-incredible-there-s/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [The real controversy comes with anthropologists - not all, but some - who see themselves as studying culture, and they then see culture from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/the-real-controversy-comes-with-anthropologists-not-all-but-some-who/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [I was very lucky. I was just finishing my PhD at Cambridge in 1981. This opportunity came up because whaling was drawing to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/i-was-very-lucky-i-was-just-finishing-my-phd-at-cambridge-in-1981/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [I don't like to be dismissive of whales speaking possibilities. There is a pretty New Age-y, poorly thought set of ideas about this going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/i-don-t-like-to-be-dismissive-of-whales-speaking-possibilities-there/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [I don't think in biology it's very controversial at all. Whether certain behavior is culture or is not culture is argued. I think virtually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/i-don-t-think-in-biology-it-s-very-controversial-at-all-whether/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [I never thought of that one, that linguistics could be driving cultural things. There are some thoughts that that does happen in humans, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/i-never-thought-of-that-one-that-linguistics-could-be-driving/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [Psychologists would say that the only two important forms of social learning are imitation and teaching, and they will spend time trying to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/psychologists-would-say-that-the-only-two-important-forms-of-social/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) [Explore all 21 Hal Whitehead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) ## More Program quotes > [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [Hard work and a good education will take you further than any government program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/hard-work-and-a-good-education-will-take-you-further-than-any/) [Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Programmers are always surrounded by complexity; we cannot avoid it… If our basic tool, the language in which we design and code our programs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hoare/programmers-are-always-surrounded-by-complexity-we-cannot-avoid-it-if/) [Tony Hoare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hoare/) > [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [I don't think that a company should own a studio and the network, and program for their own network. 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