Despite all the new technology that promises to simplify communication, words like miscommunication and misunderstanding are yet to become obsolete.
Instead, they have become more relevant in a world that is going through an information overload, where clear and unambiguous communication needs to be developed as a soft skill. It was with this idea that postgraduate and research department of English in St. Joseph’s College, has set up its communication club.
At the inauguration of the club on Wednesday, Rev. B. John Bosco SJ, secretary, St. Joseph’s College, said, “While there are words in English that are universally understood, there are many more words and phrases that have multiple layers of meaning.” Misunderstandings arise when people assume that all words have the same meaning at all places and situations.
Giving their takes on the term communication were Roop Kumar Balasingh, head, department of English (PG), Bishop Heber College, and William John Bosco, assistant professor, E.V.R. College. While professor Roop Kumar felt that hypocrisy was nothing but different points of view from where people communicated to themselves and to the public, professor John Bosco felt that signs and symbols which are part of our non-verbal communications, needed greater scrutiny.
Giving the session a perspective was the presence of Director Balaji Sakthivel, who addressed the topic, ‘Cinema - a powerful communicative medium: Challenges ahead’. Using his latest release, Vazhakku En 18/9, as a platform, the director revisited the various verbal and non-verbal nuances that he had placed within his story, explaining their significance.
The session ended with an interactive session with the director.