Delivery

**Please excuse the issues with spacing and font style in my post. For some reason, I can't correct them*

When the authors mention page the concepts of page literacy vs. electronic literacy, I immediately thought of Lynne Truss’ punctuation guide, Eats, Shoot & Leaves. In her final chapter, entitled “Merely Conventional Signs,” she talks about the same concept; she just uses different terminology. 

            “I blame all the emails and text messages,” people say, when you talk about the decline in punctuation standards [and in our case aspects of page literacy]. Truss continues-“ Well, yes. The effect on language of the electronic age is obvious to all, even though the process is only just begun, and its ultimate impact is unimaginable (151).
And image all that has changed since Truss made that statement, seeing that the book was published in 2003. She later comments that the written word is adapting to “the most immediate, universal and democratic written medium that has ever existed” (152).

What resonates with me about this whole idea of two types of literacy, is how quickly many people (not all) have thrown “standard” and “traditional” conventions to the wind and are accepting less than standard writing. The have your ideas printed to the “Almighty Page” requires careful construction, proofreading, and usually some type of funding. If non-standard language makes it to the page, it usually has a purpose or is a sign of artistic license. The electronic sphere, on the other hand, is filled with writings and rants by the artists and literate types, but it is also filled with writings and rants of people who truly don’t know the difference between its and it’s or two, to, and too. It’s frustrating to see that what I, and many others, are trying to teach and reinforce as being important is deemed worthless in parts of the electronic world.

I guess my rant further supports the authors claim “usage allows Americans to discriminate” (417).  Put please understand that I’m not discriminating against a particular group of people, I’m criticizing society’s acceptance of certain behavior. If people can break the rules with impunity, the more power to them. I realize that it’s not a black/white issue, but I can’t help but feel frustrated that what I do for a living is not being enforced or supported by the ever-growing electronic world.

The idea that strong delivery requires volume, stability, and flexibility is a valid point. I witness the results of poor delivery in my classroom. In some cases, my students, who fail to engage their peers with their speeches, presentations, and anecdotes, commit it. Other times, I hear the moans and groans of students as the criticize other teachers’ delivery systems – “He’s so boring,” “ The way she laughs ruins my mornings,” or “I can’t believe he lectures from his desk”! And once in a while, because I work hard to see it doesn’t happen, I notice that my delivery fails. I’m the one who misses, because I’m lacking one of these three. If it’s not a matter of volume, stability, or flexibility, then it’s probably a matter of me not having practice with a particular subject. The authors comment that comedians and newscasters lie on opposite ends of the delivery spectrum, Comedians are expected to and are almost required to use gestures in their delivery, while newscaster are expected to remain still and expressionless. When these two stray from the norm, the effects can be memorable. For example, when our class discussed our 9/11 memories, many of us reflected on what we remember about the news anchors: the tears, fear, and language. It was unusual and therefore, effective. On the other hand, some of us find that the funniest people are the people who can tell a joke or do something funny without reacting in the way we expect them to. Dry humor, sarcasm, dark humor, etc.; work well, while others prefer slapstick behavior and punch line humor. Most days, I find myself in the middle of this spectrum. I have to be part comedian, part newscaster. I must say, some days it’s much more difficult to be the newscaster when I’m in a room full of energetic and silly teenagers.