My Philosophy on Communication
“Improvisation is a compositional method.”
— Evan Parker
Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing are the four main areas for developing mastery with any language. Mastery can be synonymous with fluency, command, proficiency and capability.
It is interesting to see how language learning develops and how the interplay of listening, speaking, reading and writing all work together.
From what I can gather when it comes to attending seminars, having discussions with experts in the field and getting information through my own research, ongoing language development is non-linear.
All in all, the more reading you do the more it helps with improving speaking abilities and the more writing the more that enriches all other areas and so on.
The main exception here is with early stage language learners. Beginners need a strong focus with oral language development.
Once a strong foundation of oral language has been created ongoing development then transitions from the linear to a position where the framework is more of a continuum.
A continuum that again allows writing to enrich speaking, reading to enhance listening and listening to augment speaking abilities.
Reading plays a big part because it enriches vocabulary and hopefully adds more information to the reader’s body of knowledge.
This notion is not 100% bulletproof and there are exceptions. From what I can gather, there are students of language that are meticulous writers with imaginative content and a sound use of the rules of grammar, but struggle with the speaking part.
There are also students who struggle with the structural elements of writing, but are fearless when it comes to speaking.
The best conclusion I can come to on this is how personality impacts language development and language use. More on this in a little bit.
To give a real world example of a profession that really illustrates what we are covering here we have to go right to the legal arena.
Lawyers in particular for the most part are excellent at listening, speaking, reading and writing. Their line of work requires all of it.
When someone hires an Attorney, they are mainly looking for someone who is a master of the English language. Let’s face it. They have to work with legal writing that includes motions and briefs.
With all of their work involving writing, they become top-rate writers.
Listening plays a key role because Lawyers listen to their clients’ needs, concerns and situations.
For them reading is always ongoing and it takes place all of the time.
The area of speaking is the most interesting to me when it comes to Lawyers. In my assessment, arguing a case in front a jury Perry Mason style is one form of advanced communication.
My Father C. Stephen Ayers (1946-2010) was masterful in the courtroom and this was always fascinating to me because there was a strategic element to it. He told me that he could think two and three steps ahead of the opposing attorney.
Dad was also very quick on his feet.
In many instances, he would have successful outcomes in court with a small amount of preparation time.
I think personality had a lot to do with this.
Dad was also an improvisational genius.
Two years ago I spoke with a retired Judge in Stark County. He told me that he has told many people that when he was an attorney Steve Ayers was always his toughest opponent. Not bad given that Dad graduated from Law School at the age of 41. Not bad at all.
Dad read a lot outside of his profession and a lot of that reading included books on history and the American Presidency. He always loved history and we took many trips to museums.
As Jackson Township Trustee from 1976 to 1983 he was responsible for starting the Jackson Township Historical Society, the Recycling Center and the Police Department.
Today if you were to travel to the Jackson Township Safety Center (Stark County, Ohio) at the corner of Fulton and Ohio State Rt. 241 you will find on the second floor the charter that set forth Jackson’s own first Police Force with his signature as the chief elected official to enact its legitimacy.
He was also the individual who canceled the contract with the Stark County Sheriff’s Department.
The Stark County Sherriff’s Department provided all police services to Jackson Township before April 1, 1977.
This upcoming April will mark the 40 year anniversary of the creation of The JTPD. C. Stephen Ayers was one of the chief architects of this community service.
Listening was not always his best area, but he could always match one of his experiences to a situation you were mentioning and was able to provide some sort of insight.
His writing was beautiful and a delight to read.
He was a spellbinding story teller and his memory was unbelievable.
If I were to describe Dad I would point to the actor Chevy Chase. Really in more ways than one Dad looked and had mannerisms very similar Chevy and when Clark W. Griswold cries in Vacation once they reached Wally World was truly something out of Steve Ayers’ playbook.
There is a scene in the movie Three Amigos when they are all
riding camels in the dessert and each of the actors take a drink of water really sums up a lot of what Dad’s personality was like. I am unable to put it into words, but if you see what Chevy Chase’s character does with his water I think it would make sense to you.
The irony with most of the Chevy Chase movies was that they involved some sort of road trip / adventure. The lion’s share of the best memories I had with Dad was when we were traveling around town, out of town or out of the country. For one reason or another, traveling drew out Dad’s unique personality similar to how juice is extracted from an orange when it is pressed.
He could interact with everyone and the most mundane of situations were made magical with his smile, colorful personality and sense of humor.
When it comes to spending time with family and friends I think it is all about creating memories.
All of the memories that were made with Dad are always carried close to my heart.
You could always count on listening to the Oldies when you were with Dad.
He was an uber-fan of falsetto driven music. Of course Jan & Dean was his favorite. He even became friends with both Jan & Dean and in 1987 we had our private concert with the band at the old Flamingo Bay in Belden Village. I even played on stage!
Both my sisters Renee and Jordan along with my brothers Charles Stephen II and Marlin can attest that you were always bombarded with a barrage of bom bom dippity dips of Jan and Dean music when you went anywhere in the car with Dad. He played it all of the time!
My 41st Birthday was just 12-24-2016 and nowadays I am Dad to two precious little girls.
Mollie Diane Ayers is five and Rosie Lynn Ayers is three.
Reading and Language Development have been priorities for us as parents. My Mother-In-Law Karen Feran has been a huge blessing with being a big part in the development of our two little girls.
My wonderful wife Sarah has personally picked out books at our local library every week for the past five years. In essence, both Mollie and Rosie have had a laundry basket of new books each week for the whole lives.
The library also hold excellent story time sessions for little ones. They are great.
Mollie has a strong proclivity with oral language. Early on, I taught her what I call “Playground Speak” in our own native language.
She took it and ran with it. Both she and Rosie have sweet and outgoing personalities.
I feel very blessed to have both of them and my wife Sarah.
Mollie and Rosie have had great Teachers for Preschool. Mollie even asks questions to docents and zoo employees when we make visits as a family. She learned that from one of her Teachers.
I helped her for her first show-in-tell about Volcanoes and she did great.
These past few months, I have had surprises that have made me remember Dad in profound and poignant ways. Some of them have brought about tidal waves of emotion. I went to the Jersey Boys Show in Cleveland this past September and that was one instance.
Shortly after seeing the Jersey Boys show live I heard the song Surf City by Jan & Dean in the Belden Village Marc’s right next the Glass Tower where he had a Law Office for many years.
Here at home, Mollie had a “show and tell” at school in early November. A couple of days before she was scheduled to speak I asked her at the dinner table if she wanted to practice for her upcoming presentation and without hesitation she replied with “Don’t worry Daddy it will all come to me when I am there”.
Dad was born on this day in 1946 in Tulsa, OK.
Happy Birthday to Dad!
Mizpah.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_writing
http://www.languagelearningportal.com/…/4-essential-skills-…
