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Is conversation becoming a lost art?
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| Yes | 55% | 668 votes | Total: 1219 votes | |
| No | 45% | 551 votes |
Yes
by S. Linda Jensen
Created on: September 05, 2009 Last Updated: September 07, 2009
Technology like radio, television, the Internet, I-pods,and texting have impacted the decline of conversation in many homes. Communication is through artificial support systems like email, cell phones, computerized messages and answeringmachines to name the most frequent offenders. The lack of conversation is also influenced by the rapid pace life styles we live today. We work, go to classes, the gym, the children's activities, we have hobbies like sportingevents. We have drive time or travel time to and from work and events. The hours spent getting to and from work to home as well as the myriad of other activities people participate in also drastically affects our communication through the art of conversation.
Webster describes conversation as the informal and, usually, friendly exchange of views and opinions by speech. The key words here are"usually friendly"; we have become a society that shares our opinions and views with anger, outrage and yelling.
Children often shout ot scream to get attention because they are seldom involved in inter-active communication. Often they learn from television and games, movies and radio not from adults having conversation with them. We hear teachers tell children to use their inside voice; perhaps we should exercise using inside voices as well when we communicate with each other.
In homes all over the world our technology has given rise to less conversation and more confrontational exchanges because of the interference of the various electronic devices that replace friendly conversation. People turn on the television and tune out their families and friends. Young people put on head phones and get lost in their music or games avoiding as much contact and conversation with adults as possible. Speech has not changed, we still use our vocal cords just as our ancestors did and like our ancestors language has continued to evolve.
Today our language is evolving into tweets, texts and symbols. Body language is a form of communication sometimes used communicate in order to avoid conversation.The media, government-pundits and people find more and more ways to twist the meaning of words or create new words entirely. Our peopleabbreviate words to communicate through text such as LOL, meaning laugh out loud. In this case we are losing more than just the art of conversation we are losing the spelling of the words.
A conversation should be a wonderful time to express your views and ideas with a friend or loved one or business associate but often you are competing with a phone, computer, television or radio. Technology allows people to avoid talking to someone directly. While they avoid attempts to communicate face to face through actual conversation it is possible the leave a message on the answering machine or cell phone often brief and to the point. Folks are putting off conversation and communication as they rush to the next place always in a hurry. Instead of conversation they use some electronic message device to let another party know they will talk later. Frequently, later never comes.
Families are torn apart, marriages destroyed and businessesfail from lack of communication. The art of conversation is not well! The capability of speech alone will not make conversation as people often communicate with noises rather than words. Grunts, groans and sighs rather than words are used to acknowledge or nods rather than sound have replaced the thoughtful words that convey you have heard and comprehend what another person has just said. Sometimes it is all facial expressions, body language and hand or finger gestures that are used because of the emotional trauma that trying to have a conversation makes for people.
Turn off the devices and tune into each other. Enjoy a friendly conversation with someone. Sit down, face each other and share your hopes, dreams and plans without the background noise and distractions of television, radio, games or loud music. Listen and learn about each other. Conversation is a lost art but we can find it again if we try.
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No
by Melody Hearndon
Created on: June 08, 2009
Conversation is simply defined as spoken words between people. When conversation is understood between said people and there's an ebb and flow that exists, then we are in the presence of communication and all the wonderful ways in which to express ourselves more effectively. It's he said and she said, back and forth. There's a symmetry that flows with ease and eloquence.
Communication doesn't always mean words. There's often body language that's added into the mix of any conversation. We've all witnessed the person that can't speak without their hands in full swing. It facilitates the one speaking by allowing the hands to accentuate the conversation, therefore shedding more light on the topic of discussion.
Adding to the debate surrounding conversation, is the Internet itself, and the many ways in which to connect with one another, yet speak even fewer words. We can stay in touch with others simply by clicking our mouse and yet never really speak to those in our "contact" list. It takes the word acquaintance and stretches it to an altogether different level.
In the 19th Century, conversation was as eloquent in its manner and appropriate in its era, and yet today it would be considered long winded when compared to our current manner of speech. For instance, LOL would mean laugh out loud; however in 19th century, one would have just laughed out loud if they overheard something humorous, and would have spoken of how funny that was by going into detail, allowing for that person to laugh at what made them laugh.
Conversation is not a lost art. It's the manner in which we choose to converse that's dying away. We all carry some form of communication device, be it a blackberry or the popular I-phone. There's texting that's quickly becoming the norm for our youth. Instant messaging long ago replaced the quick phone call from years gone by. There are so many options available to us as a society; we need not even speak if that's our choice.
What would our forefathers think of all the advancements made in technology, where we have all these intricate devices that speak for us in ways we can't if unavailable, or won't because quite frankly, we don't want too. Would speeches such as Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address been simply texted to avoid the need of his presence? What kind of impact does text messaging have that could even compare to the presence of a human being?
Conversation is how we inspire one another in ways that no amount of technology should replace. Where would we be as a nation, had we not been inspired by the speech President Kennedy made when he spoke, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather, what you can do for your country". At the time, I was but a child, but the feeling that came over me has long since remained.
Is it not our purpose and intention by way of conversing with others to convey our thoughts, feelings and ideas through conversation? As a society, to further explore this downward spiral of events, one will have to ask what went wrong. Has the art of conversation died because we've allowed outside devices to speak for us, or has it died because we have nothing to say? Without mere words, where would writers be? We are an extension of all that surrounds us. How best would one convey that, then through conversations and words that flow between us all?
Be an observer when you engage in your next conversation. Pay attention not only to your words, but to those that are listening as well. How well you converse will be apparent in how they further engage you into a more in-depth conversation. It's only a dying art because we've allowed it.
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