Concerns regarding the diminishing capacity for writing due to the rise of artificial intelligence are prevalent. However, I believe that our most significant loss may actually be the decline in our ability to listen. Engaging with diverse perspectives and exploring different experiences is a fundamental aspect of our humanity.
In Australia, the frequency of conversations has been steadily decreasing each year. Despite the rapid advancements in AI technologies and chatbots that offer quicker responses and what they describe as “empathetic” listening, a recent study revealed that the average Australian has reduced their spoken words by 338 each day from 2005 to 2019. This translates to an astounding total of 120,000 fewer spoken words per individual compared to previous years.
This trend is crucial to acknowledge. Language is an essential part of culture; it defines our identity.
As an oral historian, I have dedicated a significant portion of my career to exploring the impact of human speech and storytelling. From 2018 to early 2024, I led a team at the National Library of Australia that curated the largest oral history archive in the southern hemisphere, which started in 1957 and now encompasses over 58,000 hours of recorded narratives. Recently, I have been engrossed in listening to many more hours of this collection while working on a new book and a related podcast.
The richness of the library’s collection is remarkable, with much of it accessible online via Trove. It includes narratives from First Nations Australians sharing profound histories and personal recollections dating back to the 19th century.
Through this experience, I have listened to thousands of Australians from various times, locations, and backgrounds share their stories in their own voices.
This journey has illuminated what we forfeit when we cease to listen. Engaging with an oral history allows me to delve into the life of someone I will likely never meet. In an era where our social connections are shrinking due to geographic distance, remote work, and increased online presence, the opportunity to hear from someone with a different story is invaluable.
Dame Mary Gilmore, who was born in 1865, reminisces about tallow candles and life before the advent of electricity. A former Australian prime minister reflects on their election after a lengthy period of opposition. A mother who fled her homeland recounts her perilous journey across pirate-infested waters following the Vietnam War. A pioneer stationed in Antarctica shares the trials of isolation. The next voice may belong to Dr. Ella Stack, a physician from Darwin who endured Cyclone Tracy, assisted survivors, and later contributed to the city’s recovery as mayor.
As I listen, I am often struck by the accents and expressions of the past, as well as references to occupations that have since vanished. There are moments when I have laughed heartily at the humor some individuals bring to their memories.
I have heard accounts from times of significant social upheaval, such as the 1891 Queensland shearers’ strikes and the conscription debates during World War I. The bravery of First Nations Australians sharing their experiences as part of the Stolen Generations has profoundly impacted me.
Engaging with individuals from varied backgrounds and viewpoints, even those who may not share our beliefs, can enhance our mental and physical health, facilitate the sharing of knowledge, foster understanding, and ignite new ideas. It is also closely tied to cultivating empathy.
Empathy is the most valuable gift that listening can provide. The decline in our conversational exchanges could represent a significant loss in this regard. By immersing ourselves in the experiences of others without the need for immediate gratification or superficial agreement, we can step into their lives. This process helps us develop patience and appreciation for differences, teaching us that it is possible to disagree without causing unnecessary harm.
Ultimately, we discover that despite a century or more of separation, along with our diverse backgrounds and experiences, we can still find common ground through shared moments of humanity, love, loss, change, challenge, joy, and resilience. The voices of the past can resonate powerfully in our present.
Dr. Shirleene Robinson is an oral historian and a visiting fellow at the University of Technology Sydney’s School of Communication and Social Sciences. She has edited “The Memory Tapes: Voices from the Oral History Collection of the National Library of Australia” and hosts the accompanying podcast.
