2.1 What is face to face communication?

Face-to-face interaction (less often, face-to-face communication or face-to-face

discourse) is a concept in sociology, linguistics, media and communication studies describing
social interaction carried out without any mediating technology. (Crowley & Mitchell, 1994)
Face to face communication may be defined as communication when the
communicator transmits his message in person to the receiver in person verbally and even
non-verbally. Thus, face to face communication is both verbal and non-verbal. All face
communication is oral, but all verbal communication need not to be face to face. For example,
the telephonic talk is oral but not face to face. Face to face communication include meetings,
interviews, seminars, classroom lecture, stage acting, public lectures, etc. (Patil, 2013)
Above we have mentioned the real time face to face discourse but not to be forgotten
that we also use technology as in virtual reality for this type of communication. For example,
using Skype is considered real time and face to face.
In the twenty-first century that we live in, communication can be done in many
different ways other than plain speaking right in front of each other. The reason for that is
because of the existence of communication technology and the vast interest in this technology
from people around the world. Communication technology is improving as we speak and the
most important sector is depending on it to gain benefits such as business and politics.
Communication technology includes telephone, radio, television, internet, and social media.
2.1.1 How Technology has Improved Communication
Technology has advanced to the point where instant communication anywhere in the
world is an everyday fact of life. There is no question that technology has advanced, having
both positive and adverse impacts as it pertains to the way we communicate. We never
actually acknowledge the way technology has evolved over the years and how much it has
both helped and hurt us. (Walker, 2014)
First and foremost, let us discover what and how technology affects our face to face
communication positively. Technology improves our flexibility of how we communicate face
to face by the reliability and the speed of the technology itself. Modernized communication is
handled by wireless signals, undersea cables, satellites and other advanced technology,
making sure that almost instantaneous delivery of messages and data to any location on the

planet. The accessibility of technology also means that we do not need to be in any particular
place as a post office to exchange the information; all we need is a Wi-Fi connection. Living
life in an urban and metropolitan area like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru, we are
connected to wireless signal almost anywhere we go; even at the simple restaurant and on the
bus.
The flexibility of the face to face communication also portrayed through the
interaction. Online communication has opened the door to new ways of communicating with
strangers and taking part in communities. Chat rooms, discussion forums, and video calls let
people meet each other, get to know more people, doing business and exchange information
or share the latest news without having to be there in person. It gives much more flexibility
when it comes to scheduling and dealing with social anxiety; for example, is now looked at as
reasonable options, escaping the stigma or stress previously associated with them. (Wright,
2016). Take a conference call between two business organizations in different countries, for
instance, we do not have to travel far to seal the deal. All we have to do is just sit in front of
the computer, and a possible real-time, virtual reality face to face discourse happens.
With technology, we improve the content and quality of in-person contact. Cell
phones, text messages, and email make it easy and quick to arrange meetings, even at the last
minute. There's no need to sit at home waiting the phone to ring or worry about missing a call
with a single text; we can find a friend nearby and arrange a get-together. Once we are in the
same place, we can get right down to serious matters instead of wasting time on the mundane
details of day-to-day life. (Smith, 2016).
Also, technology helps to facilitate our face to face communication. The advantage of
communication technology on verbal communication is none other than the reason
communication technology is being invented for, to let people around the world communicate
freely to each other, but now communication technology can share even more things such as
photos, videos, and even organize events with people we did not know before. In an urban
society that take one's soft skills ability very seriously, we can learn, or Google or even watch
YouTube know the very basic technique of having great communication skills. As a result, the
technology automatically enhanced our communication skills which later are practiced when
it comes to interviews, seminars, and public talks.
The enormous amount of knowledge accessible by a click of the mouse has helped
improve the quality of communication. For example, if we are going to explore a different

country that speaks a different language, translating a text from an unfamiliar language to a
familiar language, seeking out the meaning of an unknown word, and getting follow up
information on an alien concept are all possible thanks to the internet. So, we can travel and
try to fit in their culture and lifestyles by using the necessary everyday-used words to make
the face to face communication useful.
Technology allows easy storage and retrieval of communication when needed,
especially verbal communication, the storage of which was tight before. It now becomes
easier to rewind, and clear misconceptions rather than make assumptions, or contacting the
person again to clear the doubt. It is amazing how technology helps people who are living a
busy life in an urban area to save cost and time effectively.
However, technology can have consequences of reducing person-to-person interaction
without the device as an intermediary. Using the term "hurt" to describe the adverse effects of
technology may be a bit much, but it conclude it up rather well. Technology had allowed us
some means of social connection that would have never been possible before and enabled us
to maintain long-distance friendships that would have otherwise probably fallen by the
wayside. However, the fact remains that it is causing ourselves to spread ourselves too thin, as
well as slowly ruining the quality of social interaction that we all need as human beings.
(Nilles, 2016)
Miscommunication is one of the leading causes of the inefficiency of verbal
communication. Many of these issues can be attributed digital communications and the
various ways they can be interpreted.
"When we assume that other people know what we are thinking, and what are expecting of
them, we do them a real disservice. Assuming that we've been clear about what we wanted,
we blame them when things do not go as planned." Heidi Grant Halvorson, Forbes (Ashton
College, 2013)
With that is being said, poorly written emails lead to confusion rather than clarify in a
workplace and as a result, people tend to have a wry face with each other and verbal
communication is not effective as expected. Next, people in the metropolitan area are more
likely to pull out cell phones while sitting at the table for dinner or while having a
conversation in person. The action seems rude under conventional social norms and leads to
misunderstanding, and the quality of the verbal conversation degraded.

Technology is also swamping us to the point we are no longer having the personal
touch. Teenagers especially, who live in the urban area are less likely to engage in social
activities away from the computers, iPads, and phones. Water cooler talks now take place by
Whatsapp, rather than a face to face communication. Many people sit at home talking via
computers and phones than in person. A sense of community comes with the ability to interact
and socialize. This sets the foundation for trust and ultimately creates a better relationship
with others. However, little by little, technology seems to be subtly destroying the
meaningfulness of interactions we have with others, disconnecting us from the world around
us, and leading to an immediate sense of isolation in today's society.
"We have so many communication tools available, but the irony is that the form of
communication that we most need interpersonal communication is less than ever. Partners
can seem more absent."-Brendan Madden (Barry, 2016)
Instead of spending time in person with friends, we just call text or instant message
them. It may seem simpler, but we genuinely end up seeing our friends face to face a lot less.
Ten books cannot even begin to equal an hour spent chatting with a friend over lunch.
Moreover, a smiley-face emoticon is cute, but it could never replace the ear-splitting grin and
smiling eyes of one of your best friends. Face time is important, people. We need to see each
other because being too dependent upon technology has only conditioned us to become less
social, interactive, and outgoing.
In conclusion, everything has it benefits and downsides. With technology advancing in
the speed of light and human interaction changing just as quickly, it is up to us on how we are
going to maintain the verbal communication effectively with or without technology. However,
everyone should be aware that human interaction that we know before may have already
changed forever.