A WORLD OF TALK
Decline Of Discourse
“More talking goes on In the world today than ever before. Radio and television abound in discussion programmes. and the producers of these programmes are always hopeful that they will sound like conversation.” remarked J. W. Lambert, author and critic in a recent 8.8. C. programme. He continued: “But they seldom do, and for a very good reason—that those taking part are always anxious to make points; and the difference between discussion and conversation lies in that in discussion the prime motive is self-assertion, whereas in conversation it is in selfexpression. "And we live, it seems, in a singularly assertive age. Wa are always telling each other things, rather than exchanging ideas. We no longer embody our attitude of mind in the whole texture of our discourse.
"We are becoming less and less civilised individuals, more and more mouthpieces for selected attitudes.”
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CII, Issue 30271, 25 October 1963, Page 6
Word Count
149A WORLD OF TALK Press, Volume CII, Issue 30271, 25 October 1963, Page 6
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