Full Idea
Difference in local Backgrounds make translation from one language to another difficult; the commonality of deep Background makes it possible at all.
Gist of Idea
Shared Background makes translation possible, though variation makes it hard
Source
John Searle (The Rediscovery of the Mind [1992], Ch. 8.V)
Book Reference
Searle,John R.: 'The Rediscovery of the Mind' [MIT 1999], p.194
A Reaction
That is a very good observation about what is normally swept under the one umbrella of the 'principle of charity'. Quine exaggerated the local, and Davidson exaggerated the deep.
Related Idea
Idea 8869 The principle of charity attributes largely consistent logic and largely true beliefs to speakers [Davidson]