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The Strengths Of Oral And Written Language

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Furthermore, the mode of language has a large effect on the efficiency and effectiveness of the message being delivered. Gee and Hayes (2011) describe two predominant modes of language: oral and written. Oral language has existed since the beginning of humanity, while written language is estimated to only have formed 3000-8000 years ago (Sampson, 1990, cited in Gee & Hayes, 2011, p. 7). Both modes have strengths and weaknesses. Oral language is more interactive than written, as visual body gestures and tone contribute to the informing the listener. (Cremin & Myhill, 2012) explain that spoken language is ‘allowed’ have incomplete sentences, hesitations and overuse of recursion without creating confusion (p. 36). In contrast, if these sentences were to appear in written texts, the reader would view it as improper and incoherent to the reader. The weakness of oral language is that it is ephermal - the length of sound is limited, and requires the memory of the listener to be pass along information. Literacy, while lacking in interactivity, is permanent. It can be passed down from generation to generation with little variation. Examples include novels, the Bible and other ancient texts. These modes of communication are complementary to each other, and compensate for each other’s weaknesses. Viewing language objectively increases awareness of the nuances and advantages of these different modes of communication.

While examining language as an object is helpful, studying language

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