In the past month I have become even more aware of the poor usage of language if not a total inability to use language to communicate accurately.
I am not talking about nit picking grammar or even spelling but about basic and accurate communication that does not involve, grunts, you knows, and facial and hand signals.
This is even more important when it is a written communication of any sort. Be it an email, sms, private, official or business communication. Are you writing what you actually mean? Is the content and intent obvious to the reader?
Is this why people do not get the response they would like to receive from their correspondence?
Or my irritation favourite of all time – people not reading what you have written nor listening to what you have said. Perhaps they are not capable of understanding?
It is a constant mantra in my classes. Please listen carefully to what I am saying and then do what is required. Everyone seems to be so impatient to get on and be doing, half the time without knowing what they are doing. In young children this is understandable because the majority are very active and want to be `doing’ all the time.
But do adults in responsible positions not realize the implications of these simple tools of listening and reading? It is so beneficial for the sender and the receiver if both parties do their part in the art of communication.
So I had better read more carefully and listen with more understanding unless I too become guilty of these cardinal crimes, if I am not already.