What can we learn from the #language of “living with covid”?
We wrote about the origins of “living with it”; how it became associated with Covid-19, and how – like other idiomatic phrases – it closes down discussion (“just live with it!”)
2. We searched on @LexisNexisUK for the first use, first use in association with Covid-19, and frequency of use, of twelve variations of ‘living with it’ and ‘learning to live with it’, up to the start of 2022.
It’s clear that ‘live/living’ outpaced ‘learn/learning’ versions.
3. Here are some examples from Lexis Nexis.
For each iteration of the phrase, we looked at the date and quote of the first (non-covid) mention; number of hits/mentions (to end December 2021); first Covid-19 mention, and an exemplar recent Covid-19 mention.
4. Idiomatic phrases like “living with X” often close down topics in everyday conversation, and we found that “live with it” also appeared as the take-home final line of articles (e.g., “Covid is here to stay, we just need to carry on as normal and learn to live with it”).
5. Phrases like “live with it” are used as “rhetorically self-sufficient” or standalone “clinched-it” statements. The “clinched-it” quality of “live with it” is supported by other grammatical and lexical features such as “just,” “simply,” “need/have/got to,” “must.”
6. In terms of “living with covid,” the phrase has become parodied and satirical (e.g., “We’ve just got to learn to live with Boris Johnson”) or scare-quoted as a position to be accepted or challenged (e.g., “‘living with covid’ idiocy”).
7. “Who” is learning to live with it is often opaque. The fact that “we” in “we need to live with it” generally refers to a whole population shows how inequalities get baked into the phrase. “We” do not have equal access to the resources needed to “live with it.”
8. Finally: Who is using saying “living with covid” is important – is it a twitter take, an expert, or a government minister?
On 21.2.22 Boris Johnson turned “living with covid” into the title of a formal statement to the House of Commons & the UK government’s current strategy.
9. Conclusion: “The challenge now is to cut through clichéd and binary uses of “living with covid” as “common sense” about which “no more need be said” to a more productive point of connection that promotes “learning” above “just living with it”.”
What evidence is there that “using these 8 common phrases” will “ruin your credibility”?
Answer: Not much.
Why do we create and perpetuate #communication myths? Communication is important, and we don't see enough of how it works “in the wild.”
🧵Thread 1/12
The thread is informed by research in conversation analysis #EMCA
There are other research methods for investigating communication, but not all look at actual humans producing, for instance, those “8 common phrases” in social interaction.
That’s what this thread will do. 2/12
The thread gives examples of the “8 common phrases” being used.
As @DerekEdwards23 says, if data-free assertions (advice, theories, models) don’t account for actual interaction, there’s a problem.
Judge for yourself whether the phrases undermine speaker credibility. 3/12
After last week's focus on the science of mechanical and natural #ventilation, today's @IndependentSage briefing focused on its translation into a non-technical #communication#messaging 'proof of concept' scheme.
3. NB. Ventilation is complex - as is making decisions about the behavioural mitigations needed following the assessment of any given space - so any such scheme must be underpinned by ventilation and aerosol expertise ...
Here’s a little case study of the ripple effect of UK government mixed messaging - universities and face coverings.
1. “Face coverings are no longer advised for students, staff and visitors either in teaching rooms or in communal areas” (DfE, 17.8.21)
“no longer advised” 🤨
2. Meanwhile, beyond campus, the government has
“removed the requirement to wear face coverings in law"
"but"
"expects and recommends that they are worn"
"in enclosed and crowded spaces where people may come into contact with people they don’t normally meet.”
3. Back to universities:
“There are no longer restrictions on the approach to teaching and learning in HE... There is no requirement for social distancing or other measures within in person teaching... [and there are no] restrictions to face-to-face provision.”
Our ‘Following the Science’ Timeline charts the main behavioural science recommendations from SAGE & Indie SAGE about the measures needed to minimize the spread of COVID-19 alongside what the Westminster Government implemented and when.
🧵+🔗⬇️
2. The timeline covers four main areas: hand and respiratory hygiene, face coverings, physical distancing, and self-isolation...
3. ...it also covers selected events, news, and dates as an aide memoire, and some dates about emerging science (e.g., the airborne nature of Covid) where it had implications for behaviours like wearing face coverings or opening windows.
Regarding @IanCookson72's point below, #EMCA research shows us that whatever appears in the 'answer' slot in a conversation can be assessed (in the moment and post-hoc) for how it addresses the initiating 'question'. News interviews are full of examples.
2. There is a great deal of conversation analytic and other research on media / news / political interviews – too much for a thread – including on the thousands of Newsnight interviews.
3. If you’re not familiar with conversation analysis, transcripts use the ‘Jefferson’ system which, like music notation, includes the precise pace, intonation, etc. of real talk as it is produced, including gaps between and pauses within turns timed to the nearest 0.1 second.
'Build rapport' is at the heart of #communication skills training and #CX
It's obviously good to have good conversations, but what does ‘building rapport’ look like ‘in the wild’ – and does it 'work'?
1. Thread. 🧵
2. What actually counts as rapport building – in terms of words and phrases and 'tone of voice' – is "amorphous” and “nebulous”, says G.B. Rubin (2016) in her thesis on crisis #negotiation
'Active listening' and related concepts sound good but they're also imprecise.
3. One common piece of advice (and instruction) to ‘build rapport’ is to ask, “how are you today?”
‘How are you’ have also been called “the three most useless words in the world of communication"🤔
Let’s have a look at some salespeople ‘building rapport’ in #B2B conversations.