am i speaking your language?

most people who have had the *cough* pleasure of participating in extensive "dnm" conversations with me will probably know all about the five love languages by now.

basically, there are five different love languages. individuals prefer different ways of giving or receiving love- and even these aren't necessarily the same language. you could prefer showing love by gift giving, for example, but really feel reassured of someone's love when they give you a quick hug.

i did the quiz back in my first year of university, having in fact very little idea what many of these love languages were (i had a phobia of physical touch, for example, and had a 1m radius of "personal space"). of course, i turned out to be quite incorrect in my assumptions of my love languages.

recently, i've noticed that this "language" concept also applies to our modes of communication.

when i was in school, my favourite methods of communication were (in no order): telephone, handwritten letters, email, blogging, and instant messaging.

at uni, these became: facebook (inbox/mail and wall posts), blogging, instant messaging, and occasionally chats over meals or coffee.

now that i'm working, my preferred methods of communication are: SMS-ing, chats over meals or coffee, phone calls, and facebook (inbox/mail and wall posts).

most of it has really been determined by cost and convenience. i seldom sent SMS's in university because my mother paid for my mobile phone plan and i often exceeded my monthly credit. hence the cost-free alternatives of instant messaging, facebook, and email. i still enjoy emailing, but i have less time to sit at my computer now, as is the case for many of my working colleagues, so i tend to SMS for a faster response.

the impact on my social life is quite noticeable. i don't mean that it's better one way or another, but the frequency with which i catch up with certain individuals is different.

of course, in my fantasy world, we are all still writing letters to each other- and they may or may not be carried in saddlebags by messengers on dappled mounts.