bDifference Btw Speech n Writing_13

8/13/2019 bDifference Btw Speech n Writing_13

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NATURE AND FUNCTION OF

LANGUAGE

TSL 3101Difference Between Speech (OralCommunication) and Writting

The Notion of Correctness

January 2013Part 3/4


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All communication includes the

transfer of information from one

person to another.

It is only the first step in the process

of understanding a complex process

or phenomenon.

Writingis a fairly static form of

transfer.

Speakingis a dynamic transfer of

information.


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LANGUAGE

Speechwhat is said and heard

Writingthat is written and read

The basis of language skills


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Difference Between Speech and

Writing

1. Age (Historical) :

Speechgoes back to human beginnings

Writing- relatively recent (5000 yearsago) by individuals who used

pictograms to represent spoken words

-first invented by the Sumerians(Mesopotamia)

- Than to Greeks, Chinese, Babylonians


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2. Acquisition (How its acquired)

Humans start tospeakduring the first

two years of lifeprobably innate

ability rather than mastered/ learned.

Learning to writetypically builds on

learning to speak

ListenSpeakReadWrite


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3. Universality

Humans can speak.

Literacy is usually based on the ability

to read and write, how about speaking

and listening ?

If we can understand (listen) and

respond (speak) using a language are

we literate ?


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4. Levels of Skills Structure

Speechconsists of two types of basicunitsphonemes (units of sound and

meaningless) and morphemes ( a

combination of phonemes andforming words)

In writing, the alphabetic scripts and

the syllabary ( the basic unit - letters)corresponds to a spoken syllable, but

its more arbitrary than iconic.


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5. Interdependence vs. Independent

Speech conveys more explicit informationWritingHebrew and Arabic scripts indicate

consonants but omit symbols for vowels. In

Chinese, the symbols may correspond to

words but no indication of pronunciation.

Spoken and written forms tend to correspond

and influence each other e.g. through is

spelled thru, because cause,And the now the dawn of the net-lingoand

sms lang, is it the beginning of the end for

the English language that we know ?


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6. Retrievability

Speechcould not be captured orpreserved until the invention of

recording machines (audio hardware)

But writingcan be preserved in manyways ie. historical accounts, records,

process, systems and rituals (

Recorded format in archives, libraries,history books, dictionaries, menus,

etc).


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7. Literary use

Oral literaturenonliterate culturescomposed many songs, rituals,

legends etc orally & preserved by

memory over time (generations)

Text Literaturemuch larger and

more codified than memory permits.

Even in literate societies, dramatic

performance and reading aloud from

texts still remains and very popular


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8. Prestige

Written language is associated withpolitical and economic power

(commerce, busniess and educational

institutions) which lend itself to a

higher level of prestige (deals and

contracts, MoU)

Nevertheless, writing can be seen or

perceived as colder or more lacks

personal character than speech.


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9. Standardization

Spokenlanguages have dialects.and local culture influence. Though

spoken language has one function it

has many forms. Hence, the elementof uniqueness(being the oneonly) is

not present.

A single written norm and system isthe accepted standard. English is

English and not Spanish or French.


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10. Formality

Writingmore formal - in formalcircumstances (lectures, speeches)

The power to influence and dictates

Needs logical organization and skillsSpeechless formal and more

casual style; and a speaker is prone

to anomalies of usage e.g. non-verbalcues, hesitations, that can influence

messages being conveyed.


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11. Change

Spokenlanguage undergoes change(continual, cultural, and necessity

change). Its fluid.

Writtenlanguage, because of itspermanence and standardization,

shows slower and less sweeping

changes. Its anchored.Nevertheless, languages do change,

its alive (Chomsky 1968)


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12. ACCURACY

Spokenless need for accuracy i.e.

speakers make mistakes- rephrase,hesitate, or change the subject/ topicat mid-sentence. Impromptu; informal

WrittenSentences with mistakesand half-finished sentences would bejudged inaccurate or even weaklanguage proficiency.

Tolerance more language accuracy ismore to what is heard, less to what isread.


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13. Feedback

SpokenImmediate feedback

speakers can rephrase, speed up orslow down in response to the idea/

feedback they are getting from their

listeners. InteractiveWrittenNo immediate feedback for

the writer from the reader. Usually in

forms of written response. Reactive.Sometimes, no feedback at all.


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And so, Speech vs. Prose

1. Age 10. Formality

2. Acquisition 11. Change3. Universality 12. Accuracy

4. Skills Structure 13. Feedback

5. Interdependence (Exchange)

6. Retrievability

7. Literary Use

8. Prestige

9. Standardization (Dialects)


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Tutorial Task 1

Read HO 1 (File 21)

Discuss why ordinary conversation is

different from writing in terms of

language use ?

What are some of the unique features

of conversation/ speech that

differentiate it from prose/ writing?

End of part 3/4 !!

bDifference Btw Speech n Writing_13

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