Lengthy discussion, anyone?

• Author: Carter, Ronald
• Position: WORDS & IMAGES

CHITCHAT IS TAKING OVER our lives to the extent that we are losing the ability to converse at length. E-mail, texting, and the omnipresent iPod have forced us into increasingly shorter exchanges, the consequences of which have an impact on our ability and willingness to tackle the major issues of the day. Language research shows that conversations at work are becoming shorter, with more core business being conducted via e-mail, telephone, or videolink. Speed of communication takes precedence over extended debate or discussion.

In preparing the Cambridge Grammar of English, we employed a 1,000,000,000-word computer database of language to survey how words are being used in contemporary society. The database holds recorded day-to-day conversations and examples from radio and TV across a wide range of regions, age groups, and social strata.

In a representative sample, more than 25% of everyday conversations among people at work involve changes in topic after just two or three speaking turns. This suggests that constantly introducing new topics or ideas is a preferred mode of sustaining a discussion.

The reasons behind all of this small-talk communication are highly significant: it is part of the social glue that keeps us all in touch. It is vital in forming and sustaining relationships within our fast-paced modern world, but it also begs the question how well do we do big talk? Big talk means discussing ideas in depth, having your ideas and thoughts challenged so you get to refine them more, forcing you to re-think, extend, and elaborate your first thoughts. It means listening intently; in face-to-face discussion, it means learning to recognize and belier interpret body language--nods of the head, raised eyebrows, telling smiles.

Considering that art reflects life, we need only watch an episode of "EastEnders"--aired on PBS--to see that we seriously are in danger of losing our ability to debate. The neat sound bite has been extended to the 20-second sequence on our favorite prime time shows. Rare indeed is the talk show that plays host to a single guest with careful follow-up questions and gentle interrogation of key ideas. The few deep discussion-based programs that remain--"Charlie Rose," again on PBS, being a prime example--are relegated to the late hours at night.

In democratic societies, it is vital that we become nations on receive as well as transmit. If we lose the art of conversation, there is a risk that we may become inflexible and...