“Words that
remind us that as professionals in rhetorical studies, we must learn to ask new
and different questions and to find more and better ways to listen to the
multidimensional voices that are speaking from within and across many of the
lines that might divide us as language users —by social and political
hierarchies, geography, material circumstances, ideologies, time and space, and
the like” (4).
I
particularly liked this quote because it made me think as a student (not
professional, because clearly I am not) what I should be doing to better
understand the multiple rhetorics. I applied this to school, because being a
double major that intends to enter law school next fall, many of my disciplines
require bridging into other disciplines and schools of thought. Also it is easy to often get lost or bogged down within what we are reading or learning simply do to the choice of language by the author, especially when one is reading material from a foreign discipline.
The
part that I want to focus on is “we must learn to ask new and different
questions and to find more and better ways of listening.” I remember having to
take a communications class freshman year, the only thing I actually remember
from that class is when our teacher pointed out the difference between hearing
and listening. Hearing an individual does not necessarily mean that the
information is fully taken in, but when we actively listen the information is
processed, and opinions and outcomes are subject to change.
I
also like this quote because it takes on a progressive mentality, focusing on
what “we must” do. It is our job, as students and human to question what is
around us, however many of the questions have already been asked, yet do not
produce a comprehendible or relevant answer. This lack of understanding creates
a void, which can be replaced with “new and different questions” that need to
be asked.
This post really shows this quote in a new light. Your insight on thinking of this in a student way was something I had not considered. It makes this much more applicable to us now, instead of in a few years when we can be technically called professionals. It drives us students to start thinking in a progressive way, instead of just a way to learn the material.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I really like about this quote you chose is how it addresses that we have things that do divide us in language; and we, as students and professionals, need to think of ways to work past that. Many times this does not just mean a different language. It can mean a different way of thinking. We need to be able to work through that in a respectful, open-minded way. That is one thing I think we tend to forget. If we disagree, we try and find the best argument to prove that person wrong; when really we should be listening to their views and taking them into consideration.
You made very good points in your post that really helped make this quote applicable to us now. It helped make the reading more enjoyable, so thank you!