Speak Trippingly

The Culture Gig

I teach speech and communication skills to individuals whose second language is English. Lately, I’ve been thinking, I need to broaden my practice to include native speakers.

Why do I think that?

Have you read through posts on social media? Facebook and Twitter is one thing, but when you read the confused renderings of thoughts on LinkedIn, well Houston, we have a problem.

I have not spoken to all these folks on LinkedIn, therefore, I do not know if their spoken word is as confused as their writings. I have my suspicions.. I say this because employers have expressed some dismay in that their recent hires have communication issues. And teamwork issues. And empathy issues. Even, are you ready for this, digital skills seem to be lacking. What?????

That last item is due to assumptions on employers, and was, on my part as well. That assumption is that we think people who have nice technology know how to use it. It is an easy assumption to make since anyone under 40 has been brought up with laptops, iPhones, and streaming TV. Nonetheless, knowing how to use it well, means being trained to use it well. Point and shoot is great for amateur hour on YouTube, but in the workplace, you need a bit of quality in your productions.

The same goes for communication. Read this next sentence slowly. To be an effective communicator, one needs training and practice. Sometimes, one will also need voice lessons.

The employers need to understand that excellence in communications does not come out of a hat. Part of it is genetic, nonetheless, most of this skill is developed with education and training.

Once upon a time, education in America included classes called elocution. What is that? It is an archaic word that we now refer to as communication skills. Elocution, well, that is what I teach, provides training in expressing thoughts clearly, and articulation of speech so that one is understood. No mumbling, no ums and ahs, no rambling. Plain, well enunciated, well thought out, speech is the mission here.

Immigrants get it, that they need these skills. Americans? Not so much. Well now, it could be one of the reasons why an immigrant gets hired over an American, because the immigrant knows how to speak English well?

Is this the fault of the dumbed down education? Yes. That said, where did the idea of dumbed down education come from? The idea that we need not expect children to master an education. Or that an excellent education is a “white” thing. And then there is the, “we are all created equal” slogan.

We are all worthy, and self-owning. But we are not created equal. Some folks are smarter, and can master certain skills. But let’s face it, no matter how hard I trained to be a ballet dancer, I was not created equal to Misty Coleman. She has what it takes. I do not. She, therefore, when it comes to dance, is my superior.

When it comes to language, however, there is no excuse. Those born and raised in this culture have parents and teachers to help them develop their basic communication skills. If one, or the other, or both, fail the child, that is a cruel fate. In all the recorded history of humanity, as language and communication developed, so too did the civilizations. Those who learned to read, write, and speak well, they advanced.

I repeat, the ambitious immigrants understand this.

All children must be taught to speak their native tongue coherently. Basic communication skills are necessary in the real world. Learning English for those millions that do, is mostly for professional reasons. They are ambitious. Really ambitious, because English is a difficult language to master. It has about 171,476 words. I have no doubt, that before I die, there will be 172 thousand. For those ESL students, using those words correctly can be a nightmare. Native speakers would do well to study some of those words, and how they are used, more closely. As in broaden their vocabulary so that they can understand there is more than one way to use most words. This prevents misunderstandings. And long, drawn out, arguments on social media.

China has had an English language program for their small children for years. China is able, then, to infiltrate our culture, and understand our weaknesses. Because China is not concerned with many of the issues the West concerns itself with.

Methinks more individuals in the West might consider learning to speak Chinese. Now that would be ambitious.

I love ambitious people, no matter what language they speak.

Anyway, enuf said.