Getting
the Message Across
Tom
is a history teacher with a message to give his students. There is a test
coming up, and Tom wants to be sure that his students have all of the
information they need to be successful. Tom must decide what the best method of
delivery for this information is. Should he orally review the material for the
test, or should he give students the information in writing? Tom must decide
between using oral discourse or written discourse in preparing his students for
the test.
Definitions
To
understand fully the meanings, characteristics of, and differences between oral
discourse and written discourse, we must first look at some specific
definitions. Discourse is a term used to explain the transfer
of information from one person to another. It implies the use of words and
sentences in context for the purpose of conveying meaning. Discourse can happen
either orally—through spoken language—or in written format.
Oral
Discourse
Oral
discourse is
just as it sounds. It is communication or transfer of information using words
that are spoken. For oral discourse to happen, someone must be speaking either
in conversation or through oral delivery of information, such as in a lecture
or presentation. Oral discourse lends itself to the use of speech acts,
which are functions of communication that might include congratulating,
ordering, demanding, promising, hinting, warning, or greeting. Oral discourse
often also contains discourse markers, such as words that create
pause or separation of ideas (such as ''well,'' ''so,'' ''anyway,'' or ''you
know'').
Written
Discourse
Written
discourse is
also the transfer of information, but, as its name suggests, it involves the
written word. To be successful, the writer and the receiver must have the
necessary skills for delivery of information; the writer must be able to write,
and the reader must be able to read. Written discourse is often tied with genre,
or the type and/or structure of language used to imply purpose and context
within a specific subject matter, especially when looking at literature.
Characteristics
There
are several characteristics that are unique to each type of discourse and
several reasons why a person might favor one form of delivery over the other.
With
that in mind, here are some positive characteristics of oral discourse:
- Meaning is supported by nonverbal
communication and other factors such as tone and intonation
- It can be done spur of the moment
- The audience is known to the one
delivering the message
- The pace of communication is
generally determined by the speaker
- More personable and involves a
shared situation between speaker and listener
Now,
here are some negative characteristics of oral discourse:
- Words are often not given as much
consideration before they are spoken
- It is often less planned and
contains less structure
- There is a tendency to use words
with fewer syllables and less complex sentences
- Once delivered, it cannot be
changed or taken back
- The receiver of information must
listen to the whole speech or presentation at once in order to get full
meaning
- Oral information is only permanent
if it is continuously passed from one person to the next
Let's
now take about the characteristics of written discourse in the same way,
starting with some positive characteristics of written discourse:
- More precise as words can be
thought through and carefully chosen
- Once written, words can still be
changed or rearranged in order to make communication more precise
- There is a tendency to use larger
words and more complex sentences to make the message more interesting
- Writing can happen over a period
of time with much consideration given to the message and its delivery
- The receiver can spread reading
out over a period of time so as to give full attention to meaning
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