The way we use language depends on factors such as the
situation we are in (at a friend’s house, in a job
interview, in a tutorial); who we are talking to (friends,
potential employer, tutor); and our means of
communication (conversation face to face, telephone,
email, report). Our decisions about the way we use
language are to a great extent unconscious ones: we
instinctively know how to adapt our language to the
situation. For example, there are a number of differences
between spoken and written language. This being so, we
can characterize spoken language as quite informal,
colloquial and presumably unstructured (since it is often
spontaneous). Furthermore, spoken language mostly
takes place in the form of a dialogue with another
speaker. Written language, on the other hand, is
generally more structured, formal, impersonal and
wordy. Also, written language is considered more
formal and should follow the rules of the English
language. Spoken language is generally less formal, and
the rules are less important. Slang, an informal language
understood only by certain groups, is acceptable in
spoken language but not in written language. That said,
read the statements that follow, then check ( T ) for
TRUE and ( F ) for FALSE while indicating the correct
answer (by also checking it).
( )Written English is more complex grammatically than
spoken English, with longer and more complex
sentences, fewer contractions, and more subordinate
clauses.
( ) Spoken English is more likely to be face-to-face
communication, while written English is more likely
to be communication through the written word.
( ) Spoken English is more fixed and stable than written
English, which is more fleeting.
( ) Spoken English is usually more organized and
carefully formulated than written English.
( ) Written English is typically more structured and
forms a monologue rather than a dialogue, while
spoken English is more likely to be a dialogue.
( ) Written English communicates across time and space
for as long as the medium exists and the language is
understood. Spoken English is more immediate.
( ) Spoken English normally uses a generally acceptable
standard variety of the language, whereas written
English may sometimes be in a regional or other
limited-context dialect.
( ) In Spoken English, the content is presented much
more densely. In written English, the information is
“diluted” and conveyed through many more words:
there are a lot of repetitions, glosses, “fillers”,
producing a text is noticeably longer and with more
redundant passages.