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The Human Mind 51

Linguistic codes (which are part of the wider communication codes) are also reasonably
consistent but may change over time with the adoption of vogue words: these days everything
seems to be an ‘issue’ or a ‘fury’ or, in government circles, ‘an initiative’. Sometimes organiza-
tions and divisions within them create their own vocabularies and linguistic codes. There
is nothing sinister in this and it simply goes towards building group identity and rapport.
However, the use of common codes tells you that people are part of a group.

Sometimes the extended use of esoteric linguistic codes can cause problems.

THE INTERNATIONAL COMPANY

Supposedly to simplify communications, a structure to the acronyms. For example,
leading international company used acronyms common sense would suggest that the first
in place of virtually all proper nouns. It did letter should always be the geographical area
not refer to the Marketing Department but (‘E’ for Europe, ‘G’ for global and so on) but
to ‘EMCS’ (Marketing Central Services) and it this was not the case. An enormous amount
referred to the Human Resources Department of time was thus wasted in trying to decipher
as ‘GER’ (Global Employee Relations). In its what was meant. There were also serious
reports it did not refer to John Smith, but to misunderstandings, which were put to rest
‘JS’, or to Bill Jones, but to ‘WEJ’. It had printed when a senior manager sent out an instruction
a glossary of over 500 acronyms, which that in future ‘all UOAANST11 would cease’.
employees (and external consultants) were This caused an uproar, but it made the point.
expected to learn. There was no consistent

We should consciously tune in to a subject’s communication codes – think what he is
really saying and why. We should also remain on the lookout for changes in his codes, or
incongruencies between his various channels of communication, because these are always
good clues to deception.

INVESTIGATOR’S LINGUISTIC CODES

Some investigators, in their more genitalia with both hands. This is their
enlightened moments, grunt in staccato baseline communications code and is often
bursts accompanied by a great waving of accompanied by a verbal expression such as
hands and serious readjustments of their ‘what a load of twaddle’.

EMBEDDED COMMANDS

Obviously people do not always stick to their primary channel of communication or codes,
nor do they think exclusively with one hemisphere of the brain. To complicate matters fur-
ther, the subconscious registers communications totally missed at a conscious level. Sublimi-
nal advertising12 or muzak to encourage sales in retail shops are examples of communications
aimed directly at a person’s subconscious. These are sometimes referred to as ‘voice to skull’
communications because they bypass conscious filters.

11 Use of acronyms, abbreviations and non-specific terms, i.e. UOAANST
12 There is still a big debate over whether this works: the balance of professional opinion is that it does in certain

circumstances