August 04th, 2017

So, I'm walking to my Pilates class this morning and, as usual, I pass a lot of people along the way.  It used to surprise me. I mean after all it's not even 8 am yet and there's loads of people outside, walking their dogs, working in their yards, heading into town for breakfast and one gentleman who brings his newspaper to read in a little park I cut through every morning. Now I am accustomed to seeing a lot of people  Every single person I passed and said,"Morning".  Few of them actually looked at me but they all said the same thing, "Morning".

I just want to be very clear on that.  They didn't say, "Good morning"  or even the contracted, "G'mornin'".  It was just "morning".  Good.  We are all in agreement.  It is, indeed, morning.  Makes me laugh.

We have altered the American version of the English language so much in my lifetime alone that it's barely understandable.  When did "lite" become an acceptable version of "light"?  Some young girl who recently was in the headlines was referred to as the "Cash me ouzide" girl.  I assume they meant, "Catch me outside".  How is that a thing?  I keep hearing and cringing when  people on television DIY or house hunter home shows refer to a bathroom as a "baffroom".  When did the pronunciation of that word change?  I know I'm out of touch with current trends (and frankly, I always have been so this is not just an age thing) but I have to be honest. It makes me a little crazy.

Texting shorthand is another example.  Yes it's much easier to type three letters, LOL, than "laugh out loud"  and that one is fairly common.  Even I know that one.  But the acronyms don't stop there. IMHO and AFK, I figured those out.  But AAMOF?  What the heck is that?   ICYMI?  NNTR?  ITT?  FWIW?  I have no idea.  I could make up things that it might stand for, but it's probably not what the writer intended.  ITT, could be  "I time turtles"  or  NNTR could be Not now Tom Rosen....but it's probably not and THAT is how miscommunication happens. Now people text using just emoji's.  NO words at all, just those  cute little pictures.  The smiley face, the birthday cake, the little hearts.....  And I'm thinking, Pictographs?  Hieroglyphics?  We are now going back in time to communicate?  It baffles me.

Communication is essential in every society.  Clear, definitive, unambiguous, coherent, straightforward communication is the key to success in almost everything. At work in every single instance that comes to mind,  in education, giving or receiving directions, invitations and most certainly in relationships.  And yet, I find, more and more, short hand speak, short hand written or typed communiques and less and less eye contact.

It might be that the lack of eye contact is the most concerning to me.  Admittedly, part of the reason is my hearing problems.  Even with hearing aids, I rely a bit on lip-reading (it's a noisy old world out there people)but it's not just that. 

Did you ever hear the expression, "The eyes are the window to the soul"?  Well I don't know if I can see your soul, but I can definitely see in a persons eyes if they are annoyed, if they are bored, angry,  interested ,caring, or  intrigued , despite what their words might say.  Facial expressions and body language speaks an entire language of it's own but if you don't look at me and are slumped over your phone or your computer through our entire conversation I assume that what you are feeling is, "Go away I don't want to talk to you".   And that might not be the case at all.  Or maybe it is. But the point is, I do not know what the person is actually thinking because they are not communicating clearly with me. I am only guessing.

Communication should not be a guessing game.  It should not require telepathy or an acronym to English dictionary.  There should be no question at all between the parties communicating and if, for some reason, something does require further clarity, none of it should be in picture, or acronym or with the TH supplanted by F's.

I'm not saying that we should all be speaking like Chaucer wrote. Not at all.  Not even close.  My complaint is simply the laziness I hear and see which is replacing a language that is rich and full and glorious.  Mr. Webster went to all the trouble of collecting an entire book's worth of amazing and wonderful words. Why aren't we using them?

The photo has nothing to do with my post today, it was just a pretty picture that I liked, just in case you wondered.

I am  done with my complaint of the day. I feel better now.
HAGW and ISYM  :)