We've evolved to use symbols to communicate (to transfer information), not to think using symbols. We use symbols as a way to transfer information over slow, lo

We've evolved to use symbols to communicate (to transfer information), not to think using symbols. We use symbols as a way to transfer information over slow, lossy channels. Inevitably some information is going to get lost along the way, either because the symbols don't represent the meaning fully, or because if they would, they would be too long and cumbersome to use. Speed won over precision. People who speak the same language are still prone to misunderstandings.