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RosieG

If you could communicate effectively in ways other than speaking would you be content? Must you speak to be "heard"? Isn't writing better?

Posted - August 26, 2018
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  • There are those of us who find public speaking difficult. I am one. I do better with written communication, but only marginally better. Writing is only as good as its clarity, but the same could be said for all communication. I sometimes feel that the electronic forms of communication are taking away the proper usage of English and we are losing our understanding of it. But then, so many things concerning language are no longer taught in schools because of our technical advances. I suppose it's more a matter of what you're forced by circumstance to do. One year of formal education produced the Gettysburg address, but a lifetime of letter writing by Lincoln made it the enduring speech that it is now.
      August 26, 2018 6:18 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    "...the proper use of English". I must offend you/tick you off greatly daily.  I was an ENGLISH major. I think it is a viable vital lively language  meant to be used as the user finds most effective for him or her. I have FUN with words and sometimes/often that means not going "by the book". Spelling them as I wish not as is "proper". I make up words when I find that none exist that suit me.  The purpose of language is to communicate. If I say to when it should be too does anyone really not understand the intention? I do not approve of "Language cops". You know the type. Lying in wait for someone to make a mistake and then POUNCING. Not to be helpful but to be condescending supercilious and an obnoxious SHOWOFF. Just my take on it DA. Intelligence hs nothing to do with the ability to spell "properly". I worked with genius scientists years ago who could NOT buy a word they could spell properly. That was my job. I would not have gone off on this riff but you opened the door. You said..."taking away the proper usage of English" and I just went along with it. I don't apologize for having fun with words.  My intention is not to offend but to paint a picture...perhaps one which only I can see the beauty of..(you see...there I dangled  a preposition. Pretty gruesome ain'it it?) Oops I did again. I said "ain't" to be quaint but the taint of improper grammar is there for any pouncers. Lotsa folks (there I go again) speak other languages and English may not be their native language. The rest of us make mistakes naturally because no human is perfect. Sometimes some of us go out of our way to express ourselves in ways that are thought to be impertinent. Oh well how bad can it be to be impertinent?  Apologies. Thank you for your reply and Happy Sunday DA!  :) This post was edited by RosieG at August 26, 2018 6:42 AM MDT
      August 26, 2018 6:41 AM MDT
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  • A few observations. First, I apologize for answering the question. As I said above, communication is only as good as its clarity. I think that point was made. I made the mistake of thinking that I was communicating and that was not the case. I don't approve of "Language Cops" myself. I disapprove of such about as much as I disapprove of "Politically Correct Cops". We really don't need them if the rest of us are going to be condescending and supercilious. I think there is a need for more ENGLISH majors. I've known a few. A couple were nationally acclaimed authors. They knew more about semantics, word games, word play, puns, grammar, spelling, parts of speech and sentence structure than I ever will. I won't argue with their success and I won't try to correct genius.  Having been born and raised in the American South, I've seen and heard it all regarding use and abuse of language.(This is where "ain't" was born and I ain't gonna deny it) I've been around so many clever innovations in expression that it just doesn't phase me anymore. So, to say that I'm offended or ticked off is a misconception. Impertinence, like beauty and dangling prepositions, is in the eye of the beholder. Ya'll have a real good Sunday and come on back to see us when ya can. Ya heah? Always good to jaw witcha.
      August 26, 2018 8:03 AM MDT
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  • 10798

    I prefer to communicate via writing.  I find it much easier to convey thoughts and ideas via written words than spoken words.  Communicating through speech or through art is limited to one's vocabulary and talent.  However, words are different.  One can "alter" them to fit anything they want.  Look at Theodor Geisel.  Many words that he coined are known by millions all over the world.  Ever heard of a Grinch? 

    While spoken words can be for any number of people, written words are meant for an audience of one - the reader.  Spoken words have a limitation - they're spoken and then gone.  Written words, on the other hand, can be read repeatedly and pondered.  If I were to orally say, “The cool waters babbled softly as they skidded over a bed of rounded stones as stately firs looked on like silent sentinels overhead; their mighty boughs stirred only by a gently breeze”, one might get a brief glimpse into what was said.  Yet if it were written and read, the reader can linger on each word, as a picture is painted in their mind - a picture unique to them and them alone. 

     

    Written words can be twisted and shuffled and bent,

    Wrangled and tangled ‘till they’re gnarled and spent.

    Noodles are poodles and tigers are trees,

    But only in the mind of the reader if you please.

     

      August 26, 2018 10:03 AM MDT
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