Spoken Language

     Written Language

1. Extra lingual information may be derived-

sex, age, class, etc.  Faster – spontaneous – off-the-top of the head.  More ambiguous and immediate.  Can be planned.

1. Less extra-lingual information can be clarified e.g. child’s writing.

Slower – prepared

Can refer back at random

2. Feedback

i)                     Oral: (sound): ‘I see’, giggles.

ii)                   Visual: nods, smiles, clock-watching, gestures, bewildered expressions etc

              [Extra-Linguistic} body language,

               watching, gestures.

iii)                  Para-linguistic:  Mood more easily recognised.

iv)                 Special case: telephone conversation – no visual feedback.

2    Feedback

i)                     ‘Delayed’ feedback

ii)                   All types of feedback in other column absent

iii)                  Balance of different types of sentences depending on effect required.

3. Grammatical Features:

i)                     incomplete structures

ii)                   interrupted structures

iii)                  altered structures

iv)                 spoken (voiced) pauses

v)                   Long meandering compound sentences using ‘and’.

3.    Grammatical Features

       Features mentioned in opposite column are tidied up.

i)                     Time allows re-reading and correcting

ii)                   Punctuation helps bring order.

4. Vocabulary

Tendency to use:

i)                     slang and more simple words eg doctor v. medical       practitioner         

ii)                   imprecise references –

eg. in time, soon, later, in a minute, refer to people as them/they.

iii)                  swear words

iv)                 colloquial

v)                   limited vocabulary

vi)                 often more monosyllabic words

vii)                use of ‘fillers’

viii)              dialect/accent/regional words

4.   Vocabulary

      Tendency to use:

i)                     formal words – slang avoided

ii)                   technical words;  eg legal jargon

iii)                  more precision eg. former, latter, above

iv)                 swear words usually avoided

v)                   ‘educated’ language

vi)                 time taken to select correct word

vii)                polysyllabic words

5. Phonological Features:

i)                     Intonation:  This can alter the meaning considerably

ii)                   Pauses:  These can be used for stress, climax, or may occur prior to selection of a hard-to-find word.

iii)                  Speed:  May provide information on the confidence/nervousness/urgency of the speaker.

5.   Phonological Features:

i)                     Intonation:  Some direct speech can convey this (eg he said threateningly)  and not always clearly.

ii)                   Pauses:  These can be conveyed by punctuation, but punctuation is only an approximation to pausing.

iii)                  Speed:  Not relevant.

6. Functions:

The purpose of spoken language involves more than just the communication of ideas.

Includes:

              -  getting things done

              -  letting off steam

              -  filling in embarrassing gaps

              Great amount of repetition saying the same thing

              several times in different ways.

              Argument has more logical development.

6.   Functions:

      i)   Functions mentioned in opposite column are

           either irrelevant in a written context or cannot be

           conveyed in the same way.  e.g. anger must be

           expressed in a more controlled way.

      ii)  Some written language intended to be spoken

           (spoken prose) eg notice bulletins, formal prayers,

            play scripts etc.

      Logical development of ideas

      Argument is easier to follow.