Introduction to Communication in “Speech Sounds”
Communication in “Speech Sounds” by Octavia Butler demonstrates that in the absence of communication, it is all chaos and disorder. Rye, the protagonist of the story, goes through a series of hassles, witnesses dispute in the bus when going to meet the children of her brother in Pasadena, and sees the constraints and consequences of “limited ability to communicate” (02). When the disputes do not end, she finds Obsidian. Finding him a positive person, she leaves with him for his home but on the way meets another accident where a woman happens to shoot Obsidian. She is then left with three children where she comes to know communication and becomes optimistic. Meanwhile, it is clear that the absence of communication in “Speech Sounds” leads to chaos and destruction though its reversal brings hope and the ability to resolve issues.
Lack of Communication in “Speech Sounds”
The lack of communication or better to say the absence of language creates chaos and destruction. Rye has experienced it when going down to Pasadena to meet the children of her brother. The disagreement between two young men on the bus shows her how the lack of ability to speak has affected the people. This causes a commotion in the bus and leads to more disputes and brawls. However, what she carefully observes during this entire episode is that people are unable to communicate. They are talking with fists and punches. Therefore, when she finds the Ford man, Obsidian signaling her, she uses her insight of identifying his good intentions and instantly moves out of this situation where she could have faced problems. Even here communication does not work as “She returned his gaze” when he gazes at her (02). Even the bearded man on the bus shows that he can only “shout in wordless anger” (03) which points to his inability to communicate. It means that lack of communication in “Speech Sounds” has made characters such as Rye and the bearded man struggle to understand each other.
Understanding Communication in “Speech Sounds”
Lack of communication also means that it takes a long time for characters to understand each other. When Rye sees Obsidian, she does not understand his true intentions. She takes time in understanding him through his looks, his uniform, his ways of dealing with the situation, and with her. She identifies him after a while that as a left-hander he could be trustworthy. When she finally moves with him, their conversation through signals and motions, makes it possible for them to make love and move to some other place. However, it is another thing that Obsidian is killed on the way, but it gets clear that the ability to communicate works faster than the language of signs and moves. Although some signs are universal such as she “shook her head in a universally understood negative” though the man does not pay heed to it (04). This again points to the fact that Rye and Obsidian must struggle very hard to get to each other’s point, while conversation would have taken time shorter than the signals have taken. It also points out the fact that communication in “Speech Sounds” means a civilized way of dealing with others.
Communication Means Civilization
The fact that communication means civilization becomes clear by the end of the story where Rye finds three children after Obsidian is killed. She is left with the children to take care of them. It is not clear how communication comes back to her after the children speak with each other for “She has lost reading and writing” after the outbreak of the illness (06). At this point, however, when she hears the children talking and the girl says to her to “Go away” she becomes rather startled. It immediately dawns upon her that she can also communicate and exclaims saying “Fluent speech” (11). Then she takes very little time in telling the boy that “It is all right” after she has introduced her as “I’m Valerie Rye” (11). It becomes clear at this moment how she has reacted to the speech sounds of the boy and the girl by making her own meaningful speech sounds regarding communication in “Speech Sounds”.
Conclusion
Concluding the argument, it can be stated that communication is and seems a gift for human beings. It points to the civilized ways of human beings to deal with each other. Rye shows that when there is a lack of communication, people often take up brawls and disputes. It also shows that lack of communication causes a delay in conveying the real meanings as it happens between her and Obsidian. She becomes hopeful when she finds that the children have the ability to communicate and that her ability has returned to her.
Works Cited
Butler, Octavia. “Speech Sounds.” Future-lives.net. Accessed 13 Mar. 2019.
Relevant Questions About Communication in “Speech Sounds”
- How does the breakdown of communication in “Speech Sounds” by Octavia Butler reflect the broader themes of isolation and societal collapse?
- In “Speech Sounds” by Octavia Butler, how do the characters’ struggles with communication highlight the fragility of human connection in a post-apocalyptic world?
- What insights does Octavia Butler’s “Speech Sounds” offer into the essential role of communication in maintaining order, empathy, and understanding, and how is this significance emphasized throughout the story?
