Thursday, April 28, 2005

Lost In Conversation

I do a lot of talking in my day job. What I've noticed over the course of nearly 12 years of repetition: Human language doesn't evolve... it de-evolves. How many times today have you approached someone with a "How's it going?" and got the same response back? Was that a conversation or a mishandled greeting? Does anyone ever say "Good morning!" anymore? I've noticed that most people just say "'Morning" instead. I've deduced further that if you slur the phrase "I'm horny" just right, it sounds like "'Morning." Think you could get away with it? But, it does go to show you that people pay a lot less attention to what other people say in passing. We are often cutting down common phrases that show a reaching out to someone. Where are all the missing words, letters and phrases going that save us so much time? When did "What's up?" and "What's new?" become "'Sup?" and "'Sup?" So many real chances to connect with an actual human being are being lost in our normal conversation that it does seem that life truely is a series of greetings and farewells.

10 comments:

Jenn Doll said...

People just aren't as intellectual these day's. I love me some mental stimulation and starting it with "Sup" just isn't cutting it, buddy.

And it's GOD bless you!

I don't call when I say I will :( And it's 'cause I don't know how to be forward and say, "I don't like talking to you." Help me!

FantasticAlice said...

Think about it... we don't speak the queen's english, we speak American. A jumbled, screwed up, mixture of english, ebonics, spanish, french, god knows what else, german, etc. I can't even watch the news anymore without some 60 year old anchorman saying whasup.

and Jenn, I deftly agree.

RT said...

I couldn't agree more, for myself at least. But in all honesty I kind of like hearing the different dialects and words people choose to use. Just the other day we were sitting around teasing my Uncle's lady friend because she use the word "runte" when referring to some ketchup that had went bad. When we tried to explain that the word is "ruined", I swear to God, she ask "but what do you call it after it's already ruined".

Come on, ya gotta love people! :o)

Martin said...

I just worry that there will be a point when our vocal interaction will be grunts and whistles. Hmmm, could be an interesting weekend if you made that a prerequisite.

Teri said...

I think that this is just a reflection of our society. Everyone is so in a hurry that saying a simple greeting and waiting for a response takes too much time out of our busy day. Have you ever heard anyone respond to the question how are you doing with anything other than fine and you? Not really listening to the question or caring what the answer is...

Lily said...

I used to say good morning until I got sick of hearing "what's so good about it?"

Yo wat up yo!

Itz knot just tha spoken language that iz de-evolving, itz all so written language that iz mangled as well. u know wat i’m sayin’

It makes me cringe.

LoraLoo said...

I think most people in general are pretty self-absorbed and don't care much about what you have to say - that's why it's become so impersonal. It's hard to find genuine people through the rubbish.

Jenn Doll said...

Vavoom, next time there's someone I don't like or want to talk to, can I send them your way and you can tell them!

newgen said...

amen. I really agree with you there. if you have time, take a look at these: what's up dawg and linguistics at my blog jubilation

Jenn Doll said...

Sup, nut. Yo gun update your blog so I can stop leaving comments 'n shit? Like pointless 1's. Like just like this 1. U da shizzle bizzle. What's good? Hit me up dawg.