Revisiting Electronic Communication in Deborah Tannen’s You’re Wearing That?

Taylor Burmeister

        Deborah Tannen’s 2006 book, You’re Wearing That? Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation was lauded by critics as being an appropriate and comprehensive look at how contemporary (albeit middle-class) mothers and daughters communicate. Today, more than a decade after publication, much of her insight remains accurate. However, the world has changed dramatically in the last decade; with the introduction of the iPhone in 2007 and the increasing popularity of social media and video as a means of communication, it seemed appropriate to revisit some of Tannen’s views on electronic communication as they apply to life at home and in the classroom.
        Tannen sees a great benefit in electronic communication as a means of bridging worlds and improving communication between parents and children in a variety of ways. One way, she claims, is that it is a faster way to communicate with distant parents. Another way, is it equalizes the ability for all family members to interact. Tannen describes a common situation where a younger sister was finally comfortable to speak at home after her brother moved away to college. In situations like that, email is a comfortable way for children to communicate. In perhaps the most important way that Tannen describes this technology is with deaf culture. Tannen describes the beautiful pastiche of languages when members of the deaf community email each other: “since word order is different in ASL than in English, the result is a blend of the two languages… [which] reinforces their feeling of closeness and of the uniqueness of their rapport” (Tannen 2006). In Tannen’s view, technology does not, as many claim, necessarily distance people, but actually provides a way for families and friends to remain close and informed in ways that were never possible before.
        Today, technology is more ubiquitous than in the world of 2006. Schools across the country are adopting 1:1 classrooms and 68% of all U.S. adults use Facebook (Greenwood, Perrin, & Duggan 2016). Tannen’s view of technology, with her then-helpful definitions of “email” and “instant messaging” seem quaint in the fast-paced world of Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter. However, teachers can take away Tannen’s ultimate message about technology: it is a tool for communication. Our students will likely be familiar with typing and swiping to degrees Tannen could not imagine. But, despite this, our students have voices and experiences that they need to share. As ESL professionals, it is not our job to reject or scorn the changing world of technology. Rather, we can use it to our students’ advantage: teach media literacy, practice safe internet habits, utilize contemporary research skills, design assignments that are culturally relevant, and listen. Listen to what our students have to say. They have a voice and a story, and technology is just another way to tell it.

References
Greenwood, S., Perrin, A., & Duggan, M. (2016, November 11). Social Media Update 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2017, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/11/11/social-media-update-2016/

Tannen, D. (2006). You’re wearing that?: understanding mothers and daughters in conversation. New York: Random House.

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Taylor Burmeister is a graduate student at Saint Xavier University, IL, studying secondary education.


Revisiting Electronic Communication in Deborah Tannen’s You’re Wearing That? Taylor Burmeister Deborah Tannen’s 2006 book, You’re Wearing That? Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation was lauded by critics as being an appropriate and comprehensive look at how contemporary (albeit middle-class) mothers and daughters communicate. Today, more than a decade after publication, much of her insight remains accurate. However, the world has changed dramatically in the last decade; with the introduction of the iPhone in 2007 and the increasing popularity of social media and video as a means of communication, it seemed appropriate to revisit some of Tannen’s views on electronic communication as they apply to life at home and in the classroom. Tannen sees a great benefit in electronic communication as a means of bridging worlds and improving communication between parents and children in a variety of ways. One way, she claims, is that it is a faster way to communicate with distant parents. Another way, is it equalizes the ability for all family members to interact. Tannen describes a common situation where a younger sister was finally comfortable to speak at home after her brother moved away to college. In situations like that, email is a comfortable way for children to communicate. In perhaps the most important way that Tannen describes this technology is with deaf culture. Tannen describes the beautiful pastiche of languages when members of the deaf community email each other: “since word order is different in ASL than in English, the result is a blend of the two languages… [which] reinforces their feeling of closeness and of the uniqueness of their rapport” (Tannen 2006). In Tannen’s view, technology does not, as many claim, necessarily distance people, but actually provides a way for families and friends to remain close and informed in ways that were never possible before. Today, technology is more ubiquitous than in the world of 2006. Schools across the country are adopting 1:1 classrooms and 68% of all U.S. adults use Facebook (Greenwood, Perrin, & Duggan 2016). Tannen’s view of technology, with her then-helpful definitions of “email” and “instant messaging” seem quaint in the fast-paced world of Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter. However, teachers can take away Tannen’s ultimate message about technology: it is a tool for communication. Our students will likely be familiar with typing and swiping to degrees Tannen could not imagine. But, despite this, our students have voices and experiences that they need to share. As ESL professionals, it is not our job to reject or scorn the changing world of technology. Rather, we can use it to our students’ advantage: teach media literacy, practice safe internet habits, utilize contemporary research skills, design assignments that are culturally relevant, and listen. Listen to what our students have to say. They have a voice and a story, and technology is just another way to tell it. References Greenwood, S., Perrin, A., & Duggan, M. (2016, November 11). Social Media Update 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2017, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/11/11/social-media-update-2016/ Tannen, D. (2006). You’re wearing that?: understanding mothers and daughters in conversation. New York: Random House. _________________________________________________________________________ Taylor Burmeister is a graduate student at Saint Xavier University, IL, studying secondary education.
ITBE Link - Winter 2017 - Volume 45 Number 2