TTYL: Communication Culture Throughout History
Everybody talks; including you, your mom, your grandma, and your great-great ancestors. They had ways to communicate that came with their own etiquette and cultural significance as complex as our own. What did communication culture look like over a hundred years ago? How has it changed?
Telegraphs were one of the first ways people could quickly talk over long distances. Created in 1835, Samuel Morse’s electromagnetic communication method using a rhythmic code lets people send messages across the country. Communication was a bit different on the telegraph due to its price. The majority of the population didn’t have the disposable income to support sending telegraphs as casually as we send texts. Because of this, the telegraph was more commonly used for communication during wartime, but the messages that were sent between people are telling as to how little humans have changed. Observe, the “bailing on plans text”: Here, F. Scott Fitzgerald is sending a message to his agent saying how he is too anxious to go out and is going to “Irish goodbye” the function. See, we haven’t changed at all.
Image courtesy of Princeton University Library
Next came the telephone, introduced by Mr. Alexander Graham Bell. The telephone underwent many upgrades throughout history and has become a fixture in American Culture, but the early telephones were rejected by the public at first. People viewed Bell’s invention and other inventors' similar pursuits as toys, very similar to how the older generations today see smartphones today. However, after years of development and improvement in range and sound quality, the telephone was fully accepted and integrated into American society. This was a huge step in communication culture because of its accessibility. People gained easier access to each other and communication over distances became more casual and consistent. As phones became more common, they had their moment in pop culture. Calls were used in movies and referenced in songs as cell phones became more ingrained in day-to-day life.
Present day, we’ve evolved past the phone call. In fact, many people would rather die than pick up a call. In its place, we’ve resorted to Instagram DMs, snap chat, and texting in desperate situations. Each communication method differs in content and context. Sending someone something as simple as “hey”, depending on the platform, has vastly different meanings. With digital communication becoming easier to access and more ingrained in our lives, communication culture has gotten more complex and confusing. Communication culture has evolved beyond following a standard etiquette and has become more personalized, —for better or for worse. The way someone uses communication methods has become a personal reflection of their character. What we talk about and the way we talk about certain things have changed too. Digital communication has made room for more topics, conversations, and ways to communicate. We’ve become way more casual and all-consuming with our communication as we’ve become easier to access.
@gabrielle,kenyon
Sources:
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/14-curious-telegrams-from-and-to-famous-writers
Cover image courtesy of cottonbros studio