alternative communication
June 11th 2007 18:05
communicating in means other than words seems to be the theme of my thinking patterns this week, so i have been exploring alternative forms of communication. what use does a word have if the person you are communication it to has no idea of its meaning? by saying it slower or louder at them doesn't help the situation any (which annoys me to no end!), and the conversation just, well, stops. or you might end up getting an ashtray when you asked for a glass of cab sav!
the book the trumpet of the swan by e.b. white, is a fine example of this. it basically is about a swan that cannot communicate the same way that other swans do. he ends up going to school and learning how to read and write by writing on a slate around his neck. he returns home and tries to tell one of the lady swans that he loves her, but she cannot read so she just swims away. his father then steals him a trumpet and louis learns how to play it, which becomes his new form of communication. he then returns home, trumpets his way into his beloved female swans heart, has cygnets and lives happily ever after.
this beautiful, well constructed novel metaphorically states the bleeding obvious. there is a way to communicate to everyone, we just need to find out how. just because we understand one form of communication well, that doesn't necessarily mean that others will. and when we start using multiple forms of communication simultaneously, all hell has the potential of breaking loose. maybe someone should have taught george w how to play a trumpet.
this beautiful, well constructed novel metaphorically states the bleeding obvious. there is a way to communicate to everyone, we just need to find out how. just because we understand one form of communication well, that doesn't necessarily mean that others will. and when we start using multiple forms of communication simultaneously, all hell has the potential of breaking loose. maybe someone should have taught george w how to play a trumpet.
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Comment by MelissaA
Fun Facts
For the most part now it's got more to do with the fact that I know generally what he's after, but for a while there he would also change his mind on what he wanted without communicating it clearly enough to me.
Now however, I think I've got most of it all worked out and he's one of my favourite customers.
Nice post.
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
This irritates me no end too Jonathon! Because by SHOUTING the same sentence to someone who previously did not understand it will automatically give them clarity WTF?
Sounds like a great story!
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
thanks for dropping by.
it's funny how we rely on one form of communication so much, and when that form breaks down, so do we in a sense. i think the ways that we are forced to use alternative communication is something that everyone should go through at least once in their life. it certainly does test the person.
great story.
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
an israeli friend of mine explained this to me when he first came to australia, and i remember thinking at the time 'what dumb shits. if he didn't get it the first time, it's pretty obvious that it's not his hearing that is the problem.' since then it has happened to me a few times here in south korea, and each time it does i have a little giggle and think of yuval.