While
language provides a common platform for communication-based
modes of knowledge, the
level of sophistication which communicationbased
modes of knowledge integration achieve
depends upon the extent of commonality in
their specialized knowledge. There is something
of a paradox in this. The benefit of knowledge
integration is in meshing the different specialized
knowledge of different individuals-if two
people have identical knowledge there is no
gain from integration-yet, if the individuals
have entirely separate knowledge bases, then
integration cannot occur beyond the most primitive
level.