Reading as a Solution to the Problems
of Communication
Professor- Department of Humanities
Ms. Namrata Soni
Asst. Professor
Department of Humanities
in
the National Conference Help at Jabalpur Engineering College Jabalpur in Feb 13
Communication in the era of globalization has
become an inseparable aspect of our personality. The rapid unification of the
whole world and the consequent need of the common medium of expression have
contributed significantly to the function of English in the new born world as
an inevitable need of the individual as well as society, the nation and the
world at large. The mutually interpenetrating spheres in the industrial setups
and the new phases of the socio-political developments across the globe make it
clear that communication is essential for defining the status of man as a
denizen of the world. It is however unambiguous that English is the only medium
that can be employed to unify the scattered parts of the globe and minimize
cultural distinction through industrial unification. The applicability of English as an effective
tool for unifying the whole world into one industrial unit stands much above
the questions marks. It is also undisputable that the role of English in this
phase of the development has ceased to be merely social and decorative; on the
contrary, it is more functional and organic in the perception of the new world.
It is paradoxical that until recently, English
performed the function of the common second language of India India ,
Pakistan and Bangladesh
Communication as an important tool and the
effective measure of the modern day life style, demands certain important pre
requisites that determine the nature and quality of the application of English
in certain areas. The grammatical accuracy is the most important of all
parameters defining the form and function of communication in the renewed
socio- economic set up that came into existence after the globalization.
A comparison with the mother tongue makes clear
the mechanism of developing communication. A child in his nascence develops
communication through interactions with the surroundings and the first
utterance that comes from him is credited to his mother and marks the birth of
speech. The growing nascent on his way to childhood takes to writing and
reading and it is ironical that he never takes to learning grammar as far as
his mother tongue is concerned. The study of the second language or acquired
language has a distinct mechanism which begins with the acquisition of command
on grammar and is soon followed by reading and writing. Speaking comes last.
The mechanism of learning English can be compared with a civil construction.
Grammar is the lay out and writing and reading make the foundation while the
speaking represents the complete structure. The problem of communication has
acquired tremendous concern in the recent decades. It is paradoxical that
despite continuous break down of the barriers of communication, and
availability of resources, there is a meteoric rise in the problems of
communication, resulting into incessant deterioration in terms of quality and
functionality. The problem before the students of Hindi belt is that English
has been something monstrous and their search for accomplishment remains
unfulfilled. This is principally the reason why there is often some frustration
among the students of Hindi belt. The mediocre calibers, just because of better
communication secure better jobs and the students with rich technical insight
make compromise and live on low wages. Students, during their formative years,
come out with a number of pretexts; genuine or otherwise, for the lack of
communication skills. However the quest for remedy is nothing but chasing a
mirage.
It is obligatory for us to look into the problem
of speaking in English that make oral communication in the second language a
difficult task. As a result of the regular interactions with the students
facing problems in speaking English, we locate the problems along the three
dimensions. They are
·
Command
on grammar.
·
Vocabulary
·
Problem
of mindset or hesitation.
Grammar is unambiguously the backbone of any
language and English is no exception to it. The students of under graduate or
post graduate level taking technical courses are expected to have adequate
knowledge of practical English grammar, however the real problem comes with
application of grammar and vocabulary as the fact can not be denied that the
language is essentially the knowledge of application. It is also unambiguous
that the problem of communication occurs chiefly due to the lack of application
of grammar specially in speaking. It is also closely observed that the students
taking higher studies lack confidence not just because of the lack of knowledge
of grammar but also because of the
limited opportunities to apply it in everyday conversations. Reading Reading
The problem of diction is another very threatening
aspect of English learning activities in the Hindi belt which constantly alarms
and admonishes the learners at school and college levels. It is indeed a remarkable
observation that the problem of vocabulary persists regardless of the age and
efforts as the complete command on the dictionary is neither possible nor
desired. Reading Reading Reading
Let us not take some statistical exercise to
support the point discussed above. It is understandable that a student (or even
scholar) aspiring for accomplishment in vocabulary may easily consult five
words a day and if the same is done for three hundred instead of three hundred
and sixty five days of the year, we add fifteen hundred new gems in the
treasure of mind and memory and a student during his undergraduate studies may
consult and preserve no less than six thousand new words. Even if half of them
are retained, the student secures an enviable position from the point of view
of building the empire of words and diction. Even a relatively moderate statistics provides
ample scope for satisfaction. If we reduce the number of words to three per
day, the learner after a simple effort of three hundred days, succeeds in amassing
a sizeable number of nine hundred words per year and consequently three
thousand and six hundred words in four years.
Even if half of them (one thousand and eight hundred) are retained, the
learner enjoys a commanding position as far as his vocabulary is concerned. The
most moderate figure would be one word a day and thus three hundred words a
year and one thousand and twelve words during his under graduate studies which
makes a fairly handsome number from the point of view of the enrichment of the
vocabulary.
It is indeed undeniable that no other application
of the language may prove to be as fruitful as reading from the point of view
of revising grammar and enriching vocabulary. Some scholars of language however
demonstrate greater affinity towards listening but the fact can’t be denied
that listening is an activity which is subject to the autocracy of time and the
sender and the receiver have a time bound frame in which they communicate. Thus
in the circumstance of ignorance or ambiguity, the learner has but a little
scope to stop and revise or update. On the other hand time ceases to function
in a tyrannical manner in case of reading and the learner had sufficient scope
admissibility for new patterns of the language manifest either in form of some
grammatical discipline or some new word structure.
The problem of mindset however is the most
alarming of all problems as it inducts a snag in the flow of communication and
simultaneously it deprives the students of the proficiency fluency in speaking
English. Reading
Let us now examine how reading helps us waging a
war against this most fearsome enemy as far as the applications of different
aspects of language are concerned.
It has often been said that books are our best
friends. Though, it seldom happens that the saying is justly understood and
appreciated and the application of the inherent implications is even indeed a
much distanced phenomenon. It not only reveals the role of books as a source of
knowledge and information, ideas and ideals, or an object of companionship, but
it also reveals the mechanism of reading a book. The saying rests on the analogue
between a friend and a book. It is however ironical that the reader’s response
to the above cited saying is limited to companionship through casual reading. Reading
The comparison between a book and a friend is
often misinterpreted for sharing knowledge, keeping company, helping each other
in times of need and the likes but while working out this comparison we always
forget the most essential of all acts. The analogue between the friend and the
book in hand can be worked out on the basis of this most fundamental gesture
that takes shape in form of verbal interaction between the two friends. And,
quite unfortunately, this most fundamental aspect of friendship is always
ignored while reading a book. It can easily be made out that the most common
and simple manifestation of friendship takes place in form of some talk that
may be a simple chat regarding day to day subject or it may be a serious
discussion on some topic of grave significance. In either case the friends
talk; they converse they share and this sharing may be on any topic having any
intention. It may be serious or of no material significance; it may be light,
aimless and even futile or of some immense emotional or worldly importance, but
the fact cannot be denied that the conversation makes the most important
manifestation of friendship between two individuals. Two friends standing quiet
and speechless is a rare phenomenon that is observed on some specific occasions
marking something unbecoming.
The attitude of a reader towards the books while
undertaking the task of reading is generally not the attitude of a friend but
of a guardian at its best. The most common approach to books (especially in
case of learners at initial stages) is that the books are posted at the high
altitude and deified as a supreme power which cannot be questioned. This
attitude leads to a lump and static reading. The reader is dawdles on the book
for hours but ceases to acquire anything as reward for devoting time to
reading. The fruitlessness of this kind of activity ultimately drives the
reader away from the books and reading alike as despite devoting hours he fails
to secure anything to his pre existing store of knowledge of the language. He
fails to add new words to the vocabulary and the revision of the grammar also
imparts him some short termed knowledge and confidence. Soon the new gains are
pushed beyond the oblivion.
It is a common experience of all of us that the
conversation with the friend is neither monotonous nor follows a set patterns
of stereotypes. On the contrary the conversation with a friend (or with
friends) is dynamic and vital process that grows with the very act of
conversation, punctuated by new moods and new tones with almost equal
participation from both (or all) ends. The uniformity of tone or mood is
neither possible in the conversation taking place amongst the friends nor is it
desired. Again it is obligatory to point out that the conversation between two
or more friends is characterized by swift, subtle and unpredictable tonal
variations taking place in the course of interactions. There are moments of
gentle rage and reservations; there are points to agree and disagree; there are
times to forget the worldly wisdom and laugh and there are also times for grave
introspection and the show goes on like this. A friendly conversation is also
marked by some very grave serious debate that may take place on some very
trivial issues, and also, there are moments of light hearted jesting ending up
in the grave realizations.
The best way to read a book is through a
conversation it contrived by the reader while reading a book. Books are our
best friend means to say that we may talk to the book, listen to it, we act and
consequently we react to it. We may argue and debate with it. We must express
our love and appreciation and at the same time accept and reject the contents
of the text. It is important to note that rejection of the contents of the book
is as important as accepting them, though the rejection has to be a follow up
of the gradual and systematic interaction with the book. It has been a common
problem of the students of Hindi belt that they lack the required background
for structuring the second language, or they don’t have English speaking minds
to communicate with in the immediate surroundings. Thus it can be inferred that
the problem is a natural follow up of the learner’s inability to interact.
Books, against all odds, provide us with the company to interact in English
required for improving the language in general and speech in particular.
The major factor causing hesitation is the
possibility of being mocked at by the one we are interacting with. Mockery from
the dear ones is indeed more painful than that from the strangers and this
factor prevents the young learners of the English language from applying the
language in the speech form. Books are of great help again to overcome this
fear of being mocked at. Books put forth the ideas, opinions, emotions or any
form of intelligence and encourage you to read but they don’t mock at the
reader when he reacts to it in his own way. It is a common and natural
observation that the day comes when the learners records the fluency in
interacting with the books. Thus, the diversion of fluency from the much
revered inanimate objects to familiar human beings becomes a relatively simple
exercise in the light of the labor devoted to reading. The continuous interactions with the books
also make us realize that we can speak and the application of the language
becomes an easy task.
Let us now discuss the types of reading and their
correlation with the power of communication and its various applications.
The first very common type of reading is scanning.
It refers to a quick and hasty glance on the text there before the reader. This
is the reading that helps us in focusing on some desired piece of information.
This is however not the ideal type of reading at the initial stages of leaning
English yet in the circumstance of busy schedule, some new word can be picked
up or some unfamiliar grammatical structure can be culled for further
consultation. Skimming is also little different from scanning as it aims at
picking up the important points of script. Newspaper reading provides one fine
instance of this type of reading where the reader focuses more on capturing the
highlights of the scripted material instead of opting for a detailed and
thorough reading. The use scanning for a reader is same as that of the scanning
where a new word or structure can be selected for further consultation in case
it reminds the reader of the ignorance related to any of the constituents of
the language. Detailed reading of the script provides us the opportunity to cover
all the necessary constituent elements of the language discussed above. It also
facilitates us with sufficient time to take the necessary steps to surmount all
barriers of grammar and diction and even mind set. The necessary paper work
required for a lasting account of our efforts is possible only if the learner
sits with a pen and note book to take down the strange appearances of diction
and grammar.
The role of reading is equally important in
strengthening every area of the application of English. The acquisition of
proficiency, through reading has been discussed above. It is remarkable to note
that reading imparts proficiency and effectiveness to other areas of
application- writing and listening also. The accuracy of grammatical patterns
and structures and the command on diction makes him a good listener as decoding
the right meaning of a scripted message becomes easy owing to the desired
command on all the tools of the language. It is however noticeable that reading
and listening invite close comparison as the reader and the listener, both are
positioned at the receiving end and their prime duty is to decode the message.
Time plays a crucial role in imparting distinction as the fact cannot be denied
that the speech is an image in time and a scripted word is in image on the
space and functions almost independent of time. Thus while reading a learner
has all the scope to sit and talk and discuss with the book; to discuss the
existing differences, to clear the prevailing doubts and to express
discomfiture and proclaim rejection to the contents of the book. A listener can
also do all that however it is possible only after gaining proficiency as, for
a receiver it is easier to catch an image in space than to catch in image in
time.
The interdependence of reading and writing is
another very conspicuous phenomenon. The active reading helps the reader with
the opportunity to reproduce the contents of the book in written form
also. The extraction of the meaning
enshrined in different steps of the passage is the first step of the reader,
however there is lot more to follow. The organizational skills-gradual and
systematic unfolding of the point of view of the writer, determines the
culmination of the art of a writer, and if the same is transmitted to the
reader either through rigorous effort or some natural instinct, marks the
culmination of the power to deliver as a writer as well speaker. The written
material, if selected from good books, is presented before the reader in form
of a well organized script, thus an active reader is bound to appreciate and
analyze and consequently imitate the writer’s craft of organizing the material.
It is obvious that the paper subjected to your
appreciation has greater focus on the learner’s scope to surmount the barriers
while speaking in English but it is equally evident that reading accounts for a
holistic development of the power of communication. The selection of the right
stuff and right method certainly benefits the reader in all the areas of
application, stuffing his mind with grammatical accuracy, the correct use of
the word and proper organization. It is unequivocally the best remedy against
the seemingly incurable problem of hesitation. The other regions of the
application of the language also derive optimum benefit through reading. It
lubricates the rough surfaces occurring in due course of listening and it also
enriches the writer with optimum tools and technique of the representation and
illustration of any form of intelligence he wishes to share with his reader.
The paper aims at discussing in details the
problem of communication in English language manifest along various dimensions
of application such as listening speaking reading and writing. It is justly
concluded that the reading is the most effective weapon that succeeds in
surmounting all the barriers of good communication in any form of application.
Speaking is undoubtedly the most important as well as difficult application for
the students of Hindi belt having Hindi or some regional language as the medium
of instruction in schools. Thus greater emphasis is given to the factors
causing problem in speaking and how these problems are solved by active and
thorough and analytical reading. The other applications of English like writing
and listening are also discussed and the ways to overcome the seemingly invincible
barriers of communication are discussed.
The paper enshrines certain objectives, whether
those objective are justly fulfilled or not will be ascertained after the
critical analysis and appreciation of our views expressed in the paper by this
scholarly audience.
Bibliography
Chall, J. S. (1967). Learning
to Read : The great Debate. New
York : MacGraw.Hill.
Grellet, Francoise.(1981). Developing Reading Cambridge : Cambridge University
Inthira, S.R. and V. Saraswathi(eds.). (1995). Enrich Your English Book I: Communication
Skills. Delhi : Central Institute of English
and Foreign Languages and Oxford
University
Johnson, K. and D.Porter.(1983). Perspectives in Communication Language Teaching. London : Academic Press.
Pattison, Pat. (1987). Developing
Communication Skills. Cambridge : Cambridge University
Snow, C.E, Burns, M.S & Griffin, P.(Eds.). (1998). Preventing Reading Washington DC : National Academy
Trainer’s Handbook. Cambridge :
Cambridge University
Williams, Eddie. 1984. Reading
in the Language Classroom. Hongkong: Modern English Publications.
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