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The Responsibility for Communication Lies with the Speaker, Not the Listener

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The responsibility for communication lies with the speaker, not the listener


In English-speaking cultures, when there is no reaction from the listener after you say something, people ask, "Do you understand?" If the listener says they are not sure, the speaker explains again, however many times are needed. The assumption is that the responsibility for a breakdown in communication lies with the speaker.

In foreign films, when talking with a small child, you often see an adult bend down on one knee to meet the child's eye level and explain using vocabulary the child can understand. (p.87)

From Lee Min-young, 'Communicate Like TED in 18 Magical Minutes' (Businessmap)


These days, the words "communication" and "miscommunication" show up a lot. It is political season, I suppose. But the attitude toward communication is apparently a bit different depending on the culture. In English-speaking cultures, the responsibility for communication and miscommunication is generally seen as belonging to the speaker. So when communication is not going well, the speaker explains repeatedly so that the other person can understand. The image of an adult bending down to meet a small child's eye level when speaking with them is part of the same attitude.

 
But in our country, the author says, the responsibility for miscommunication is placed on the "listener." Of course, it is not true for everyone, but compared with English-speaking cultures, it is a fact that the posture of considering the other side in communication is lacking.
 
The word "communication" is said to come from the Latin "Communicare." It is a word with the prefix "co-." It means to share "together" with the other person. Whether in politics, in a company, or at home, communication needs a mindset of considering the other side.

 Yeh Byung-il's Economic Notes — Twitter: @yehbyungil / Facebook: www.facebook.com/yehbyungil


This English version was translated by Claude.

친절한 찰쓰씨
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친절한 찰쓰씨

Pleasant Charles — UI/UX researcher at AIT. Keeping notes on design, planning, and slow days here since 2010.

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