越來越多的年輕人表示 “自己從來不接電話”，特別是九十年代互聯網普及後和 21 世紀出生的人。為什麼接聽電話可能會讓我們感到焦慮？隨著更多的人認為未事先約好的電話會打擾自己，甚至選擇用文字消息代替電話交流，我們是否正在建立一種新的社交規則？本期 “隨身英語” 探討人們不再喜歡打電話的現象。
詞匯： social communication 社交通訊
Suddenly a sound rings out, stopping you in your tracks. Panicking, you search for where it could be coming from. It’s your phone, and if you’re like a quarter of 18 to 34-year-olds in a recent British study, you probably won’t answer it. The same study found that 70% of people in this age group prefer text messages to phone calls. Why do so many people hate phone calls?
While previous generations grew up using landlines to talk to their friends, smartphone-equipped younger people have grown up accustomed to using text messages, group chats and voice notes for social conversations. What these media have in common is that they are asynchronous – they don’t need to happen in real time. When you can craft a reply free of interruption, you have greater control over your contributions to a conversation. It also means that you can reply when it’s best for you. Synchronous communication, like phone calls or face-to-face conversations, can lead people to feel a loss of control and the corresponding anxiety. Coupled to this is that fact that many young people report associating phone calls, particularly those without prior warning, with bad news.
This means that new social codes are being established. Many people will now text someone to see if they’re available to take a phone call. If someone doesn’t feel able to sum something up in a few short messages, they might leave a long voice note. Could it be that not wanting to intrude on someone with a sudden phone call is just a question of good manners and respecting someone’s boundaries?
Maybe, but this doesn’t mean that anxiety around communication has been eliminated. Texting may be asynchronous, but many people report tensions from being ‘left on read‘ – when you know someone has read your message, but they don’t, or won’t, reply. Many would agree with British writer Daisy Buchanan, who reminds us how picking up the phone to talk to someone can be far more effective at relieving tension than a series of awkward messages. So, are these new social codes better at respecting boundaries, or are they just creating a whole new set of potential anxieties?
詞匯表
text message 文字消息
landline 固定電話
smartphone-equipped 擁有智能手機的
group chat 群聊
voice note 語音留言
social conversation 社交聊天
media 傳播媒介
asynchronous 非即時的，異步的
real time 實時
interruption 打斷，幹擾
contribution 貢獻
synchronous 即時的，同步的
face-to-face 面對面的
anxiety 焦慮
prior warning 預先警告
social code 社交規則
text 給…發短信
available 有空的
intrude on 打擾
respect boundaries 尊重他人的界限
left on read 已讀不回，發出的消息顯示已讀但沒有收到回復
pick up 接聽電話
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. According to a British study, what don’t 25% of 18 to 34-year-olds do?
2. How did older generations communicate socially, according to this article?
3. According to the article, what are three ways young people communicate socially?
4. How can face-to-face conversations or telephone calls cause anxiety?
5. How do people find out if someone is prepared to accept a phone call?
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. This _______ has got too many members. I can’t keep up!
landline group chat text message interruption
2. If you leave a really long _______, I’m just not going to listen to it.
text message social code medium voice note
3. In the past, no-one had mobiles, they had to use a _______.
interruption boundary face-to-face landline
4. Surprise phone calls can cause _______.
intrude anxiety social code prior warning
5. I hate it when I get _______. Make sure you reply!
left on read text message interruption synchronous
答案
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. According to a British study, what don’t 25% of 18 to 34-year-olds do?
The study says that 25% of 18 to 34-year-olds don’t answer the phone.
2. How did older generations communicate socially, according to this article?
Older generations used landlines to talk to their friends.
3. According to the article, what are three ways young people communicate socially?
The article mentions young people using text messages, group chats and voice notes to communicate socially.
4. How can face-to-face conversations or telephone calls cause anxiety?
People can feel a loss of control in synchronous interactions like phone calls.
5. How do people find out if someone is prepared to accept a phone call?
People send a text message to see if people are available for a phone call.
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. This group chat has got too many members. I can’t keep up!
2. If you leave a really long voice note, I’m just not going to listen to it.
3. In the past, no-one had mobiles, they had to use a landline.
4. Surprise phone calls can cause anxiety.
5. I hate it when I get left on read. Make sure you reply!
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填表領取25分鐘真人外師課＋英文程度分析
