Friday 5 July 2013

CONVERSATION




                                            


Conversation is defined as a form of interactive, spontaneous communication between two or more people who are following rules of etiquette.


Travelling aboard the B.E.S.T.( city bus), I noticed two girls in school uniform sitting quietly and smiling to each other. I felt it very unusual as the usual chattering was missing. On close observation, I noticed that the girls were 'conversing' in sign language blissfully unaware of the world around them.They were bereft of the power of speech and hearing. But their cheerful faces and the movement of their hands spoke of the cheerful exchange of wordless words.

But we are gifted with the power of speech and the blessings to hear. Then shouldn't we exercise this option of conversation? Sociologists say that conversation is a dying art and unless humans revive it , they are in danger of isolating themselves from fellow humans.We do not have the patience to engage or initiate another person into conversation nor we have the courtesy to lend an ear to another person. We live on a self-centered island of aloofness distancing  ourselves from our brethren. We wear fake masks of prudishness and do not make eye contact.Conversation has reduced to a formality of greeting and acknowledgement. Even if someone were to break the ice we are in a hurry to end the talk. Communication is not wholly but only a part of conversation. Texting on cell-phones and  interacting on social networking  sites  are the new forms of communication . But can they replace the heart-to-heart talk between two people? In the good old days when the wireless technology had not made inroads  into our lives , people prided themselves in conversing to maintain healthy relationships.

But public speaking courses are mushrooming. We love to debate , argue, beat the opponents at words with great confidence. There are debates and talk shows on all channels of television. We need our conversational skills in group discussions to outdo each other to emerge victorious as we cannot digest defeat.

In a nuclear family of four people caged in small apartments , there is hardly any dialogue at the dinner table. The elders will be in constant touch with their work base and the kids will be busy on play-stations or lap-tops.

                
Let us unlock our doors, go across and talk to neighbors.Pick up the phones and inquire the well-being of siblings and cousins.Converse heartily with friends. Talk to your old parents. They need your company and not necessarily your money.Plan an outdoor picnic with the family and let laughter flow. This exercise is good for our heart and lungs.
So readers how regularly are you in touch with your friends and family? 

14 comments:

  1. I am working professional and I often wonder if my kids who would always be brought up in a nuclear family face such issues. If that happens I know I would not be one bit happy. Your points bring out such a huge issue around us..

    Richa

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    1. We should try our level best not to be detached from each other. Thanks Richa Singh for reading.

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  2. I am on Social media all the time...but I am proud that it has not replaced my need to listen to people actually talk and also for me to talk to them... very much in touch with my family and i actually even send them greeting cards....not virtual ones.. the real ones :D :D *now patting myself**

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    1. SuKu, you have to pat yourself for keeping in touch with yr family and send cards too. That's very important.I love to visit the shop, select cards for family members and friends for ocassions.Thanks for reading.

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  3. conversation is a dying art now.... well, what can we say, face to face has now been replaced by facebook... I make it a point to wish all my near and dear ones atleast on their birthdays, and festivals, that way we can catch up on what's going on in each other's life...

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    1. That's very nice , the little princess, to wish on occasions and keep in touch with our beloved ones.

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  4. I don't think that social media can ever replace face to face - we need the human connection and I for one get quite enough of it thank you. Sometimes more than my writer mind wants - I also value my solitude. But you've made a good point and I love to argue. It's also a way to connect ;)

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    1. You are right Kalpana M, in saying that social media can never replace face-to face- interaction but the time and inclination of doing so is decreasing.

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  5. It is true that conversing with people is vanishing at a faster pace. We are getting addicted to our gadgets and these virtual social networking is making us anti-social in real life!

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    1. Nothing can replace the personal talk between two people. Shilpa , so truly said about us becoming anti-social due to the social medias.

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  6. You've put it so well. We are so caught up in our social media worlds that we have neither the time nor the inclination for the world around us.

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    1. We are forgetting the real world around us and are surrounded by the virtual world which many find it interesting. It's sad ,Cynthia.

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  7. I so agree with you:) These days, people are glued to their smart phones, tabs, Ipads and what not. It strange how weekends are but a Facebook affair. I miss old days....

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