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Speech Vs Writi-1

The document discusses the key differences between writing and speech. It notes that speech is usually transient unless recorded, while writing is permanent. Speakers can correct themselves as they speak, while writing must be self-contained without body language or emphasis. However, writers can revise their work multiple times. Overall, writing tends to be more complex with longer sentences, while speech is more informal and uses repetitions. Context plays a larger role in speech than writing.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
165 views

Speech Vs Writi-1

The document discusses the key differences between writing and speech. It notes that speech is usually transient unless recorded, while writing is permanent. Speakers can correct themselves as they speak, while writing must be self-contained without body language or emphasis. However, writers can revise their work multiple times. Overall, writing tends to be more complex with longer sentences, while speech is more informal and uses repetitions. Context plays a larger role in speech than writing.

Uploaded by

AaqibR
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Speech VS writing

Differences between writing and speech. Written and spoken language differ in many ways. However
some forms of writing are closer to speech than others, and vice versa. ... Speech is usually transient,
unless recorded, and speakers can correct themselves and change their utterances as they go along.

How is writing more Affective than the speaking??

Speaking is harder in many ways than writing because it is performance. ... Writing is harder in some
ways than speaking. Writing must be self contained: there is no body language or vocal emphasis as
everything must be in the words themselves. But the ability to revise and edit dozens of times narrows
the gap

Differences between writing and speech

Written and spoken language differ in many ways. However some forms of writing are closer to speech
than others, and vice versa. Below are some of the ways in which these two forms of language differ:

Writing is usually permanent and written texts cannot usually be changed once they have been
printed/written out.

Speech is usually transient, unless recorded, and speakers can correct themselves and change their
utterances as they go along. A written text can communicate across time and space for as long as the
particular language and writing system is still understood.

Speech is usually used for immediate interactions.

Written language tends to be more complex and intricate than speech with longer sentences and many
subordinate clauses. The punctuation and layout of written texts also have no spoken equivalent.
However some forms of written language, such as instant messages and email, are closer to spoken
language.Spoken language tends to be full of repetitions, incomplete sentences, corrections and
interruptions, with the exception of formal speeches and other scripted forms of speech, such as news
reports and scripts for plays and films.

Writers receive no immediate feedback from their readers, except in computer-based communication.
Therefore they cannot rely on context to clarify things so there is more need to explain things clearly
and unambiguously than in speech, except in written correspondence between people who know one
another well.Speech is usually a dynamic interaction between two or more people. Context and shared
knowledge play a major role, so it is possible to leave much unsaid or indirectly implied.

Writers can make use of punctuation, headings, layout, colours and other graphical effects in their
written texts. Such things are not available in speech

Speech can use timing, tone, volume, and timbre to add emotional context.
Written material can be read repeatedly and closely analysed, and notes can be made on the writing
surface. Only recorded speech can be used in this way.Some grammatical constructions are only used in
writing, as are some kinds of vocabulary, such as some complex chemical and legal terms.

Some types of vocabulary are used only or mainly in speech.

THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE Spoken WORD.


Josef Essberger

The purpose of all language is to communicate - that is, to move thoughts or information from one
person to another person.

There are always at least two people in any communication. To communicate, one person must put
something "out" and another person must take something "in". We call this "output" (>>>) and "input"

I speak to you (OUTPUT: my thoughts go OUT of my head).

You listen to me (INPUT: my thoughts go INto your head).

You write to me (OUTPUT: your thoughts go OUT of your head).

I read your words (INPUT: your thoughts go INto my head).

So language consists of four "skills": two for output (speaking and writing); and two for input (listening
and reading. We can say this another way - two of the skills are for "spoken" communication and two of
the skills are for "written" communication:

Spoken:

>>> Speaking - mouth

<<< Listening - ear

Written:

>>> Writing - hand

<<< Reading - eye

Status
When we learn our own (native) language, learning to speak comes before learning to write. In fact, we
learn to speak almost automatically. It is natural. But somebody must teach us to write. It is not natural.
In one sense, speaking is the "real" language and writing is only a representation of speaking. However,
for centuries, people have regarded writing as superior to speaking. It has a higher "status". This is
perhaps because in the past almost everybody could speak but only a few people could write. But as we
shall see, modern influences are changing the relative status of speaking and writing.

Differences in Structure and Style


We usually write with correct grammar and in a structured way. We organize what we write into
sentences and paragraphs. We do not usually use contractions in writing (though if we want to appear
very friendly, then we do sometimes use contractions in writing because this is more like speaking.) We
use more formal vocabulary in writing (for example, we might write "the car exploded" but say "the car
blew up") and we do not usually use slang. In writing, we must use punctuation marks like commas and
question marks (as a symbolic way of representing things like pauses or tone of voice in speaking).

We usually speak in a much less formal, less structured way. We do not always use full sentences and
correct grammar. The vocabulary that we use is more familiar and may include slang. We usually speak
in a spontaneous way, without preparation, so we have to make up what we say as we go. This means
that we often repeat ourselves or go off the subject. However, when we speak, other aspects are
present that are not present in writing, such as facial expression or tone of voice. This means that we
can communicate at several levels, not only with words.

Speaker & Listener / Writer & Reader


When we speak, we usually need to be in the same place and time as the other person. Despite this
restriction, speaking does have the advantage that the speaker receives instant feedback from the
listener. The speaker can probably see immediately if the listener is bored or does not understand
something, and can then modify what he or she is saying.When we write, our words are usually read by
another person in a different place and at a different time. Indeed, they can be read by many other
people, anywhere and at any time. And the people reading our words, can do so at their leisure, slowly
or fast. They can re-read what we write, too. But the writer cannot receive immediate feedback and
cannot (easily) change what has been written.

How Speaking and Writing Influence Each Other


In the past, only a small number of people could write, but almost everybody could speak. Because their
words were not widely recorded, there were many variations in the way they spoke, with different
vocabulary and dialects in different regions. Today, almost everybody can speak and write. Because
writing is recorded and more permanent, this has influenced the way that people speak, so that many
regional dialects and words have disappeared. (It may seem that there are already too many differences
that have to be learned, but without writing there would be far more differences, even between, for
example, British and American English.) So writing has had an important influence on speaking. But
speaking can also influence writing. For example, most new words enter a language through speaking.
Some of them do not live long. If you begin to see these words in writing it usually means that they have
become "real words" within the language and have a certain amount of permanence

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