[jim barlow]

Misunderstanding is the basis of all ongoing, (considered successful) relationships. The anatomy of misunderstanding is two-fold. It is not like cheating where one dupes another and sooner or later both know exactly what happened.
True misunderstanding is indispensable for social relationships with participants who are different from each other. (I guess this covers 99 %). It works like this:
Individual A expects x from Individual B while produces z thinking that is what B wants and that is what A has a supply of. B unfortunately expects y from A (but gets the z) while produces v because that is what’s available for “export”.

So instead of x A gets v and instead of y B gets z.

If this becomes an issue in step the politicians, sociologists, marriage counselors and what have you to explain that z is really x and y is really z or close enough or is tending in that direction if you wait long enough. The opposition of course cries foul.

“If the shoe fits…” and “leave it to the imagination” are some of the slogans of the misunderstanders. The prep “mis” seems to mean something “amiss”. Something of which the opposite is “right”.

I would rather call misunderstanding Multiunderstanding.

Understanding hardly exists at all except in terminal situations. I don’t even understand myself, they tell me. Probably right.

And what do you “stand under” anyway? We are using a worn out language. Try Creole instead. There is linguistic logic for you.