Can I say something…?

There’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately – communication as a whole but also language and social interactions. What fascinates me is how complex yet so simple communication is. You are conveying or altering thoughts, opinions, or information through verbal, nonverbal, and visual cues which are simple enough but really have complex layers that play out through our actions.

Paralanguage, the way something is said, rather than what is actually said can have a profound effect on how the conversation is played out. The voice quality, intonation, pitch, stress, emotion, tone, and style of speaking, communicates approval, interest or the lack of it. This along with body language can mean the difference of keeping an audience engage or putting them asleep. I remember being back in college and sitting through lectures that felt like absolute torture. Monotone, dry, and of course novels written within each slide. I can also remember those professors who commanded the room, their presence alone captivated the audience. Pacing back and forth, changing the tone of their voice to reflect important aspects of the lecture. Myself and others would be completely engaged.

I remember being a young coach observing one of my mentors giving a short “presentation” to incoming recruits. He had 1 slide which was actually a single sheet put up on an overhead projector. His presence alone would make you shut up and listen, but he was incredibly soft spoken under normal circumstances. But god damn, he could come to the room with his voice. Kids were hanging on each and every word, flashback to the Braveheart speech, I felt like I was ready to go into battle.

I think the point I’m trying to make is that I feel a majority of people have lost or haven’t developed all forms of communication. There’s a missing link somewhere with the development. Through observation of younger kids growing up in the world today with the rapid advancement of technology, social media platforms, texting, and whatever else that expedites normal processes essentially has people hiding behind screens and losing touch with actual in-person communication skills. People speak in abbreviations, even when they are in person and those who put on a certain bravado when communicating through the computer or phone literally shut down and cower when faced with an actually face to face conversation.

I’m just curious, what is the fate of our language and means of communication as we continue forward?