SPEAKING VERSUS WRITING
SPEECH WRITING
The worst part My helpful
about it was I friend,
had a friend perhaps not
Sitting up here realizing that I
and she’s was serious,
saying “ha began
ha”… And I laughing. Sue
was saying roared all the
“Go get the harder as my
police… go situation
Get became more
someone”…I difficult. She
later learned claimed I
that there are looked funny,
Some people clinging there
who do that in screaming. I
the face of realized that
disaster…I she was
mean they just laughing
start cracking Because she
up as opposed was incapable
to crying. of acting: the
situation must
have been
greatly
disturbing to
her, and so
she treated it
as if it were
another
situation.
DIFFERENCES
There are many differences between the processes of speaking and writing.
Writing is not simply speech written down on paper. Learning to write is not a
natural extension of learning to speak. Unlike speech, writing requires systematic
instruction and practice. Here are some of the differences between speaking and
writing that may clarify things for you and help you in your efforts as a writer
and speaker.
SPEECH WRITING
Universal, everybody acquires it Not everyone learns to read and write
Spoken language has dialect variations Written language is more restricted and
that represent a region generally follows a standardised form
of grammar, structure, organization,
and vocabulary
Speakers use their voices (pitch, Writers rely on the words on the page
rhythm, stress) and their bodies to to express meaning and their ideas
communicate their message
Speakers use pauses and intonation Writers use punctuation
Speakers pronounce Writers spell
Speaking is often spontaneous and Most writing is planned and can be
unplanned. changed through editing and revision
before an audience reads it
Speakers have immediate audiences Writers have a delayed response from
who nod, interrupt, question and audiences or none at all and have only
comment one opportunity to convey their
message, be interesting, informative,
accurate and hold their reader’s
attention
Speech is usually informal and Writing on the other hand is more
repetitive formal and compact. It progresses more
logically With fewer explanations and
digressions.
Speakers use simpler sentences Writers use more complex sentences
connected by lots of ands and buts. With connecting words like however,
Who, although, and in addition.
Speakers draw on their listeners Writers are often solitary in their
reactions to know how or whether to process
continue
Speakers can gauge the attitudes, Writers must consider what and how
beliefs, and feelings of their audience much their audience needs to know
by their verbal and non-verbal reactions about a given topic
Consider the fact that................
Virtually nobody speaks Standard Written English. This is the dialect of English
that is appropriate for professional, business, and academic writing. For example,
no one always speaks in complete sentences or pronounces the final letter of every
word. However, many people learn to translate their spoken dialect into Standard
Written English when they write.
Both spoken and written dialects are linked to the social background, age, race, and
gender of the writer, speaker and audience. Depending upon whom we are
addressing, and what we are discussing, we can switch between formal and
informal ways of communicating.
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. These include
slang expressions, and tags like y'know, like, etc.
