WORDS ON THE SCREEN: COMMUNICATION – MISCOMMUNICATION OR MISUNDERSTANDING
Tips to bring clarity to your social ‘media-ing’
Commentary
WORDS MATTER
The words we use can make or break our intent to deliver a conscious communication and getting our message across.
Today, as a global village, we can read a post on a subject or a blog originating across the oceans. The nuances that we understand, as a given, in our native tongue is not necessarily readily accessible to every one who even speaks that language. The interpretation can even be coloured by the receiver’s state of mind or where their mind is ‘fixated’ upon at that moment in time and space.
The words we use matter just as much as the message and the manner in which we deliver it. But there is more to this story…
INTERPRETATION AND NEW LEARNING
Ok. I got it. It is clear now. My mind is in ‘learning about social media mode’. I misunderstood the meaning of ‘select any social media topic that interests you’ for ‘select any topic that interests you on social media’. Not the same, right?
But through this academic interpretation error, I learned something about social media communication/miscommunication and words posted, the intent and interpretation.
My misinterpretation can find many excuses for its existence – English is my second language, my mind was focused on preparing future training curricula in my line of work, multitasking to not being present to the words and intent on the assignment page.
LESSON ACQUIRED
When I realized my mistake, I began searching for clues on how what just happened could be applied to social media. I began asking questions:
- Words – do they really matter on social media (SM)?
- How we use words on SM
- Impact they have on SM
- Is there an etiquette about word use on SM?
- How can someone’s actual communication intentions and meanings of their message be well received if their text ‘sounds’ like something else to the receiver?
My research started by the terms ‘words matter’, then ‘language used in SM’, ‘miscommunication’, ‘misinterpretation’. There were so many dimensions to ‘words matter’ that the journey experience through social media gave me subliminal flashes of where this blog and the next 3 could be going. The research brought me to another level of understanding and conscious awareness of social media.
CLARITY OF INTENTION THROUGH OUR WORDS
Text messaging cannot accurately convey tone, emotion, facial expression, gestures, body language, eye contact, oral speech, or face-to-face conversation, it is likely messages will be misinterpreted or misunderstood. The real meaning of your message gets lost through the medium.
(Hmmm…What would Marshall McLuhan say about this medium?)
(Source: Miscommunicating: the problem with texting, www.scribendi.com)
We can never really completely know what is inside of someone’s head and their full intention behind their posted message. But we can, to the best of our ability, try to modulate our written voice before we post:
1. Take a deep breath (in case you did not see my blog#1 – 5 sure-fire steps to being at-ease https://algonquincollegesocialmedia.wordpress.com/2021/07/13/blog-1-com0011/).
2. Think about what you really want to say or just go for a walk to clear your head first (also see blog#1).
3. Knowing your audience is a given, but what if you do not…
4. Put yourself at the receiving end; what does my post sound and feel to others?
5. Use the correct, carefully selected words (What’s your r.e.a.l. motivation).
6. Don’t react, particularly emotionally.
7. Place yourself in the other person’s shoes especially if you know them.
8. Be respectful even if your message is criticism.
9. Observe your body language, your tone when re-reading your text before you hit the button.
There are more tips to achieve a clear communication post. We will touch on those tips in a future blog and the impact of our posts.
IT IS UP TO YOU
We all know that humans are social beings and the need for connection with others is primordial to our well-being. Remembering that your words are powerful, do you know how much your words matter every time you post?
Thanks for reading. Meherbani Kaur
Has this blog been useful to you? Please share your comments
Blogs consulted
1- StartupIstanbul.com, https://startupinstranbul.com/blog/2015/04/developing-effective-communication-5-ways-to-avoid-misunderstanding/
2- Harvard Business Review, https://hbr.org/2020/03/10-digital-miscommunication-and-how-to-avoid-them/
3- https://lifestyle.allwoemnstalk.com/ways-to-avoid-drama-on-your-social-media-accounts/
4- https://www.scribendi.com/academy/articles/miscommunicationandtexting.en.html
5- https://www.uuopeople.edu/blog/how-social-media-affected-communication/
Algonquin College Social Media Certificate Program 