Communication might be the most studied notion in the English language. However, it is an indispensable part of human life that needs to be studied because it changes with humans. Regarding the future of human communication, it is worth observing the issue in two aspects: the “original” face-to-face and IT-enhanced communication.
As it was said, the conversation is the basic pattern of human interaction. When interacting, people generally use some strategies that subsume, for example, direct communication with a person and trying to acquire some knowledge about a person from other people (Littlejohn and Foss 179-181).
Overall, face-to-face communication opts for the usage of strategies like facial expressions and body posture (Kasper and Kellerman 27). It can be said that face-to-face interaction remains the most habitual mode of communication among humans.
There is, however, the question of communication via the Internet. In the age of IT, cyberspace can be regarded as a better means of communication (Biocca and Levy 3-4). Indeed, the Internet makes it easy to stay on-the-go with friends round the clock. Besides, it offers numerous possibilities for business.
There are, of course, some drawbacks. Apart from video calls, non-verbal strategies are nowhere to be used. Besides, some researchers disapprove of what the Net does to the language, with its abbreviations and lack of punctuation. Still, it is admitted that communication via the Internet is faster. In addition, it is easier to exchange knowledge using the Net (Kaye 13-14).
With the social networks and applications substituting for dialog, it is easy to feel panicky about the future of communication. However, communication is so deeply intertwined with human life that we often underestimate its persistence and importance. As a process, communication will never go. Besides, it is worth thinking whether the Net is really ruining the language and face-to-face interaction or just altering them into something more convenient.
Improving My Communication Skills
Of course, some people are what we may call gifted to be great conversationalists and can interact with practically anyone. Others have to master it because, as it is stated, interaction is an art that should be learned (Brandler and Roman 7). To do so, one should know what skills and knowledge are necessary to learn to communicate. What is more, one should also know how to apply them to practice both in everyday life and business.
Listening is surely the most important skill. It is noted that someone who listens usually draws people and is never alone. At the same time, a person who does not pay much attention is usually a bore. Such a person can be wrongly considered self-centered. (McKay, Davis, and Fanning 1).
Secondly, it is important to be self-disclosed. When a person is not afraid to share personal information and feelings, people tend to respond the same way (McKay, Davis, and Fanning 26). In addition, it is crucial to be able to express ideas clearly and cope with anger. These skills are necessary not to break the communication process (McKay, Davis, and Fanning 104-125).
Personally, I suppose it would do me much good not to be afraid of self-disclosure. Telling other people about myself is rather unsettling. Sometimes I wonder whether explaining my feelings and telling some stories of my life is worth the effort at all. The fear of being misunderstood or mocked is the reason I rarely open up. However, considering the importance of it in further communication as a part of my future career, I work on myself at that point.
Works Cited
Biocca, Frank, and Mark R. Levy. Communication in the Age of Virtual Reality. London, United Kingdom: Routledge, 2013. Print.
Brandler, Sondra, and Camille P. Roman. Group Work: Skills and Strategies for Effective Interventions. New York, New York: Routledge, 2012. Print.
Kasper, Gabriele, and Eric Kellerman. Communication Strategies: Psycholinguistic and Sociolinguistic Perspectives. London, United Kingdom: Routledge, 2014. Print.
Kaye, Jonathan. Communicative Action and Mass Communication via Internet Technologies. 2013. Web.
Littlejohn, Stephen W., and Karen A. Foss. Theories of Human Communication: Tenth Edition. Long Grove, Illinois: Waveland Press, 2010. Print.
McKay, Matthew, Martha Davis, and Patrick Fanning. Messages: The Communication Skills Book. Oakland, California: New Harbinger Publications, 2009. Print.