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peter lindsay

Physics Teacher,

TEDCRED 30+

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Is modern communication going to produce a generation that doesn't understand body language or verbal expression?

I am a highschool teacher and a parent of three teenage boys. In the last 5 years the percentage of communicating they do with written language has increased enormously. Is this obsession with txt and facebook destroying their ability to express themselves without emoticons?frownyface

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Closing Statement from peter lindsay

Many commenters share my concern and many see it as just a development of modern society.My main concern still lies with the age at which a child gets a phone. In my experience most have a phone by 12 years old. I worry that they move through adolescence into adulthood with insufficient verbal communication and written communication in single sentences. Maybe as parents we should encourage them to visit each other rather than Txt or facebook. Even if that means we have to drive then somewhere.

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    Elizabeth Gu 30+

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    Aug 2 2012: They're not only losing their sense to perceive body languages or facial expressions, but also they are losing the ability to understand the context of complicated reading passages. Most of the written languages on facebook or Twitter are not that complex, even somewhat superficial.
    These days, quite many of youngsters do not read books, but rather, watch youtube videos or play video games or have some chit chat with their friends on Facebook.

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        Elizabeth Gu 30+

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        Aug 3 2012: lol you surely understand my comment because it's so easy to read.
        Besides, no offence, you don't belong to my generation :(
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        Elizabeth Gu 30+

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        Aug 4 2012: : I was kidding too lol
        Don't make me feel sorry about that :'( lol
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      Scott Armstrong 50+

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      Aug 3 2012: a living language evolves. everything else belongs in a museum. reading and writing (as we know it) are on the way out..
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        Elizabeth Gu 30+

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        Aug 3 2012: interesting view!
        But could you elaborate it?
        In what way? I don't how it's evolving.
        Well, in some part, it seems like getting more convenient, but mostly, we're losing lots of essential ways of communicating one another. Even using emoticons seems a bit superficial to me.
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          Scott Armstrong 50+

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          Aug 3 2012: One thing I know as a teacher is that the vast majority of children have far greater mastery over oral language than written language. They are able to express themselves far more easily and effectively by speaking.

          The greatest two elements of the digital revolution (for want of a better word) is that video (TV!) finally has the kudos it always deserved and sharing video and audio is now fast and easy.

          As such, I can now capture a child speaking about their learning, ideas and opinions with a camera or microphone. I can manipulate the files and use them to evidence that child's learning as well as share it with the appropriate people.

          The barrier created by writing (a hugely convoluted process for young kids) is removed.

          That is not to say that we don't need written language. I believe it will always be a legitimate art-form (my personal favourite), but I do think that it is no longer the most effective form of communication.

          I'm not convinced we are losing anything. I see it more as adding something although there is an argument that our obsession with gadgetry isolates and separates people, but that's been going on since the 1950's.

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