Loudspeakers in modern life

Loudspeakers – one of the distinctive communication symbols of Vietnam in the 20th century. The sound of the loudspeakers blared every morning and evening, signaling the start or end of a new day, informing the people of current events, and announcing local activities… making it easy for the people to receive the information.

In modern society, where people can easily access information through smart mobile devices, listening to news from loudspeakers no longer plays a dominant role. Many people even express annoyance at being woken up early in the morning by loudspeakers from their wards or communes, especially when the broadcasts are repetitive. However, in many rural and remote areas, loudspeakers remain a familiar and practical source of information for the people. For the elderly, loudspeakers are a familiar means of communication. Ms. Tran Thi Mai (residing in Phu Tan district) said: “Every morning when I hear the loudspeaker, it's also the time I wake up to exercise, do housework, and listen to the news while exercising. The loudspeaker sound has become familiar, helping me to grasp information and hear important announcements from the locality, such as: vaccination schedules for children, benefits for the elderly, etc.”

For rural farmers, listening to information from loudspeakers has become a daily routine for decades. Mr. Nguyen Van Tam (from Phu Tan district) shared: “Every day, I wake up at 4 a.m., clean the yard, drink coffee, and wait for the loudspeaker to broadcast the news. When it gets brighter, I go out to the fields. For decades, I've been used to it. Sometimes, when the loudspeaker malfunctions, I wake up early and wait for a long time without hearing anything, which feels strange. I remember during the period when the COVID-19 pandemic was complicated and social distancing was in effect, we all waited for announcements from the loudspeaker to know the situation in our locality and how to prevent the spread of the disease.”

Public address systems still play an essential role in propaganda and information dissemination.

During the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020-2021, public address systems were widely used in many localities, especially in rural areas. Messages about disease prevention and control, quarantine guidelines, vaccination schedules, social distancing measures, etc., were continuously updated through these systems, helping people quickly grasp the information. At that time, the commune-level public address system became an effective "propaganda weapon," contributing to raising awareness and action among the people in disease prevention and control. Thanks to this, information was not distorted, helping to limit the spread of fake news and providing guidance to reassure the public.

Although modern media dominates, people aren't always browsing social media or watching news to stay informed about events. Therefore, in emergency situations such as natural disasters, floods, and fires, loudspeakers play a crucial role as an effective and immediate warning system, helping people quickly understand the situation and react promptly. Beyond its function of providing information, loudspeakers also serve as a cultural and social bridge within the community. Morning songs, poetry readings, storytelling, and programs promoting civilized lifestyles contribute to shaping cultural norms, fostering closeness among people, and strengthening community bonds. This demonstrates that loudspeakers are not simply communication tools, but also carry a spiritual element, acting as a link between the government and local people, a useful and reliable information channel, especially in emergency situations, and preserving the cultural identity of community communication.

MY LINH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/loa-phat-thanh-trong-doi-song-hien-dai-a422495.html