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Unit 2 discusses the following topics;
1. What is a global village?
2. The story of human communication.
3. Communication and social change.
4. Language and New technology.
In the last few years, Technology has changed drastically. Means of communication and communication needs are changed. We can communicate with anyone irrespective of their countries, languages, culture, etc. We are no more locked in our country’s culture and language. Advanced communication technologies have changed the way of living and seeing. Consequently, there is an integration of the whole world into a single space or a village.
A GLOBAL VILLAGE.
Marshall McLuhan is the one who coins the term ‘a global village’. He was the most celebrated teacher of the 20th century. He was also a communication theorist and philosopher.
A global village is a weird world whereas a communication explosion taking place. This world is now interconnected by the instant flow of information between any two points on the globe that can be distant or remote areas. Any event or program from one part of the world can be experienced or seen from any other part of the world in real-time.
THE STORY OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION AS A DAY IN OUR LIFE.
This passage talks about the history of communication development for thousands of years.
1. Origin of writing took around a mere 5000 years ago.
2. The transformation of speech form to writing takes place in 310 centuries.
3. Printing happens in the 600 century in China.
4. Telegraph appeared in the 1855 century.
5. Telephone in 1876 CE.
6. Radio in 1900CE.
7. Colour television in 1951.
Many of the technological developments did not mention in the above list by McLuhan. He did not mention personal computers, Lap laptops, the internet, and cell phones.
COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE.
Biological change is the revolutionary one, therefore, takes millions of years. But the changes in communication is rapid and immediate one and that takes several times in a single lifetime. Changes in communication bring change in our life. In other words, communication can bring changes in every aspect of human life such as family, values, profession, norms, etc.
Now let us have a look at how Communication Technology brings changes our social life.
1. Printing
The invention of printing helps people to get literate. Earlier time handwritten copies of the text were expensive and consume more time to prepare it. Hence the number of copies of books was limited. The records of information memorised and passes orally from one person to another or generation to another. Therefore the copies of books are not accessible to everyone, as result reading and writing are not a primary concern for everyone. But the invention of printing increased the number of copies of text for the people and started to read and write respectively. It was the printing that boost the literary rate in the world in those days.
2. Books cell phones CDs, DVDs, pen drives. etc.
Earlier time people have memorized the collection of data (Grammar of Sanscrit and Dictionary of Sanscrit) and passed one generation to another. But the invention of the cell phone, pen drive, calculator reduces the importance of memorization. Gradually start to use that mental energy for other creative works.
3. Development of communication network.
Diasporic culture and linguistic groups can share their concerns, ideas, and decisions as never before. The word ‘diaspora’ means the spreading of people from one nation and culture. For example diaspora of Indians in Britain, Fiji, etc. With the help of the internet, such dispersed Indians can be linked with specific interests such as language or hobbies.
LANGUAGE AND NEW TECHNOLOGY.
The development of Technology brings various changes in language as well, especially in writing.
The written messages became more brief and economical. We usually use two techniques to be more brief and economical.
1. Semantic language.
Semantic language left out vowels in their writing because these words can be predictable based on the context. Semantic language has similarities with SMS messages
pls —- please
bk——- back
snd—- send.
2. Rebus Writing.
Rebus writing made use of Homophony in language. Homophonic words have similar sounds or pronunciations but are different in terms of origin and spelling.
For example- Sun—- son
knot— not
we now use ‘2’ for ‘to’ and ‘Be4’ for ‘before’. This is also a kind of rebus writing. | |
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