{"id":448,"date":"2018-09-30T05:58:45","date_gmt":"2018-09-30T09:58:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=448"},"modified":"2018-09-30T08:46:51","modified_gmt":"2018-09-30T12:46:51","slug":"a-reader-asks-is-writing-the-most-difficult-method-of-communication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/09\/30\/a-reader-asks-is-writing-the-most-difficult-method-of-communication\/","title":{"rendered":"A reader asks: Is writing the most difficult method of communication?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Q: Is writing the most difficult method of communication?<\/strong> (via Quora)<\/small><\/p>\n

A: No,<\/strong> because communication is more than the transmission of information: True communication is when your message is not merely transmitted, but also received and understood — and ideally, remembered.<\/p>\n

If you only look at the first part of communication — the transmission of a thought — then ok, maybe talking is easier than writing. Speech is instinctual, after all, and the effort that goes into speaking is mostly invisible and unnoticed.<\/p>\n

It’s a little like your heartbeat. Your heart is constantly working your entire life, but most times, we don’t even notice it. The effort is there, but it’s just part of the background of life.<\/p>\n

So it is with speech in humans: We are hardwired for it.\u00a0There’s real effort involved, but it’s as unnoticed as our <\/span>heartbeats.<\/p>\n

Elevating language beyond casual speech does require additional conscious effort. But clear, organized, polished writing reduces the processing time on the receiving end, and helps ensure that you’re actually communicating, and not just making mouth noises.<\/p>\n

Getting your message not only transmitted, but received<\/em><\/strong> and understood<\/em><\/strong> is what real communication is about.<\/p>\n

Also, significantly: A written thought can reach far more people, across space and time, than any oral utterance. For example, the number of people who have read, say, Shakespeare far exceeds the number of people he spoke to during his life.<\/p>\n

Maybe that will change in some coming day when our lives are digitally recorded from birth onto some indelible non-paper medium; and all speech — or at least the most well-researched, well rehearsed, and well-delivered speech — can be made easily and permanently available to all.<\/p>\n

But for now, looking at the totality of the communication process, nothing beats good, clear writing.<\/p>\n

\n

Permalink: https:\/\/wp.me\/paaiox-7e<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Ask me anything! Click the CONTACT<\/a> link on any page.<\/em><\/p>\n

Share this item via the links below:<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Q: Is writing the most difficult method of communication? (via Quora) A: No, because communication is more than the transmission of information: True communication is when your message is not merely transmitted, but also received and understood — and ideally, remembered. 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What are the advantages of using a word processor over using a typewriter? (Via Quora) A. The answer varies somewhat, depending on exactly what you mean by \u201cword processor.\u201d The most common meaning is a piece of software that can capture your keystrokes on a personal computer of some\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":182,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/08\/31\/a-reader-asks-how-do-i-know-if-i-have-enough-ram\/","url_meta":{"origin":448,"position":1},"title":"A reader asks: How do I know if I have enough RAM?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-08-31","format":false,"excerpt":"A reader asks: How do I know if I have enough RAM?\u00a0\u00a0(Question sent to me via Quora) Every device (PCs, tablets, smartphones\u2026), and every user, has a unique answer for \u201cwhat\u2019s enough RAM?\" In a perfect world,\u00a0RAM would you hold all of your running programs and processes in their entirety,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":363,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/09\/16\/a-reader-asks-what-are-in-your-opinion-the-best-writing-utensils\/","url_meta":{"origin":448,"position":2},"title":"A reader asks: What are, in your opinion, the best writing utensils?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-09-16","format":false,"excerpt":"Q. What are, in your opinion, the best writing utensils? (via Quora) A: Best: Your favorite PC and word processor at an ergonomic standing desk in a quiet office with a fresh pot of good coffee nearby. Worst: A 12\u2033 roller, a billboard near a highway, and a bucket of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":829,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/10\/26\/a-reader-asks-did-your-hand-writing-go-for-a-toss-after-using-electronic-keyboards\/","url_meta":{"origin":448,"position":3},"title":"A reader asks: Did your hand writing go for a toss after using electronic keyboards?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-10-26","format":false,"excerpt":"Q: Did your hand writing go for a toss after using electronic keyboards? (via Quora) A: Well, any skill that\u2019s not regularly practiced will atrophy. But in my case, there was little to lose; and I can't blame keyboards! My handwriting was hard for others to read from grade school\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":823,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/10\/27\/a-reader-asks-you-still-ride-motorcycles\/","url_meta":{"origin":448,"position":4},"title":"A reader asks: You still ride motorcycles?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-10-27","format":false,"excerpt":"Reader Geoff Komeya asks (via the Contact link): Hi Fred: Just wanted to ask whether you still ride motorcycles? I can't tell you how many times I've read and re-read your blog about your 10,000-mile ride on the ADVrider site. Such a great piece of travel writing. Thanks, Geoff Komeya\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/10kridefullmap.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1969,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/11\/a-reader-asks-does-it-still-make-sense-to-buy-external-hard-drives-in-the-cloud-era\/","url_meta":{"origin":448,"position":5},"title":"A reader asks: “Does it still make sense to buy external hard drives in the cloud era?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-02-11","format":false,"excerpt":"Reader Simone Paciaroni*\u00a0asks: \"Does it still make sense to buy external hard drives in the cloud era?\" I think so, yes. But not instead of cloud storage --- with cloud storage. 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