[luckyme]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm puzzled as to your objection? Surely there is some interpretation occurring all the time when we listen to each other?

[/ QUOTE ]

That captures the nub of it. ( no reference to taking beasts into custody or of knobs intended).
If you take that meaning of 'interpretation' then 'literal' has no meaning in your world.
np. I'm too far removed from post-modern claims to cut that approach to meaning any slack. ( no intent to refer to knives or the tautness of ropes ).

interesting though, luckyme

ps. perhaps if you could define 'literal' and 'figurative' as you use them it would help. I'm not claiming my view is 'right ' (non-reference to bilaterals), just shocked at how far out my usage is to yours. No wonder ( none of the 7) we can't communicate.