WRITING VS. SPEAKING
Written English and spoken English are different.
Written English is formal and spoken English is informal.
Memorizing set phrases or other written English is useless in daily conversation.
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WRITING VS. SPEAKING214 comments to WRITING VS. SPEAKINGYou must be logged in to post a comment. |
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English is not a subject you study a couple of hours a week...
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I agree with the author that spoken English is different from written English.
The grammar of conversational English is usually simpler, and shorter than written English. Written forms are more complex, and may contain more clauses, and passive forms.
The vocabulary of Written English is also more inclined to use more precise wording and hence more difficult vocabulary. More explaining is done in written English to avoid misunderstandings that can otherwise be avoided up when two people are talking to each other. Explaining in detail in writing needs more difficult grammar and vocabulary.
Indeed,both of them are quite different,but I think it is not the point that the professor want to tell us.From the title,all of us should understand the way that improve spoken English is really different from the way we have got before.In my opion,we should creat atmospere that we can speak more,read more,communicate more ,if we do this ,we can improve our spoken English.
In my opinion, though written English and spoken English are different, they are both important. They are both powerful tools to exchange our thoughts. Comparing to written English, I am interested in spoken English much more, although I am not good at it.
From another point of view, I think both the Speaking and Writing are art. A good speech can inspire people. A good article can make people benefit a lot.
Unfortunately, my writing and speaking both are not very well, I should pay more attention to them.
I don’t agree with author that “Written English is formal and spoken English is informal”. On the one hand, Written English is formal, like thesis, poem and documents. But sometimes it is informal, like letters with good friends and notes. In this case, you just express your meaning clear and spell your words right. On the other hand, spoken English is informal. Maybe you can call your classmates: guys. But in the international meeting, you must call: Mr or Mrs, Miss. If you want to thank an official of government, you should say: I’d like to avail myself of the opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks to…. So my opinion is: formal or informal, it dependent on environment.
I know that writing is very different from speaking.
Before this semester, I took writing more important than speaking. In school, we learned how to write, with standard grammar. You can just follow something to make sentences, and you can also understand the other’s writing easily. However, speaking is more complicated. You can understand one by his writing, but can’t follow him when he speaks. What’s more, I do believe that I can make my writing better on a hard work. For example, I can do more reading, which must be helpful with my writing. I can also do more writing just for practice. All of this can be done by myself at any time as I like. But I need to practice with someone to make my speaking better. And English environment is necessary too. All of this is beyond my control and really difficult.
Now，I feel a little confused about the relationship between writing and speaking. At present，which one needs more attention？There are really not much time left for me.
As what I always say, English is just a tool for communication, no matter written English or spoken English. I used to work as an intern in multi-national company where English is the working language. I found that although all the documents and emails are written in English in the company, but the English used is not very complicated. They always use almost the simplest way to express their meaning when they are writing something in their daily work. You can never see a single sentence containing some rhetorical features which we are studying in our English class all these years. This is the real situation that we will face in our carrier. As to the spoken English used in the company I just mentioned, needless to say, it is even simpler. Most of the oral communications are done by short sentences. So what I really want to say here is, when we used English in our daily work there is not such a great difference between written English and spoken English. At least the difference is not as great as what we learn in class. I don’t think written English is such formal while spoken English is such informal. Again, both of them are just tools for communication. Perhaps all we have to do is just to express our opinions in a proper way and make sure the readers or listeners understand them rightly.
Since we began to learn English, we have practiced much written skill while little oral one. As a result, for most Chinese students, spoken English is much more difficult than written English though written English is more formal. Take my friend T for example. His written English was excellent, but when he spoke English in public, he felt nervous. However, he was totally changed by an occasional chance that he got to know a friend from British and had a nice talk to him about what they are bothinterested in. After that, He said, that’s not so difficult to communicate with a foreigner in English as he thought before, just take it easy.
Written English and spoken English is for different occasions. Written English is more commonly used in reports, or comments I make for this article. Memorizing something without using it in the daily life is not a dish to all of us. We do not speak written English when we talking to others. We merely speak long sentence, we speak short ones, and sometimes a single word would work. When we read newspaper, it is written English, only we watch news or movies, or any other videos could we contact with the spoken English. I star to watch a lot of American movies since I got in college. As to me, it really works. But what you learn from movie is not going to help you a lot in the tradition examination of English. So, I think, it is what are you going to use English decides how you should learn English. Basically, language is for use, so use it!
I strongly agree with the author. Speaking and writing are quite different things. We need to focus on both of them. However, I also think they are very similar with each other from another aspect, for they are both the reflection of your English level and logic thinking of English. So no matter where are we, we should try our best to use English, making full use of our English, which we have learned almost 11 years.
Right!
In China,the distinguish between speaking and writing is usually ignored, and maybe our writing is not so good either,because English reading makes up most of our English learning.Maybe, the best way of learning speaking English is just the simplest way,just speak it as often as possible.In fact,I’ve got a feeling that our Chinese students’ pronunciations are better than some other country’s people, but the chances for us to say it are too little. So we need encouragement by teachers and by each other.
Of course, these two form of English are different in our daily life. However, we cannot say which one is more important or more formal. They would have different effect under different situation. In other word, formal or not is determined by the enviroment, but not the form.Language is a way of communication rather than a subject. We should know both of writing and spoken well, if we want to make a better communication with others. Nowadays, lots of Chinese student would focus more on reading but not writing or spoken. They ignore the meaning of Language. What they do is just preparing for the exam.
Indeed,writing and speaking are different in many aspects.And I very agree with you that writing is formal an speaking is informal.But Writing and speaking English are both important in our daily life.People always say that practice makes perfect.If you don’t writing ,maybe you forget how to spell the words.I believe that writing also helps to improve your speaking,and vice versa.So English learners shoudn’t lay particular stress on one of them.Because they are equally important.
After so many years of English studying, maybe I can read and get the main meaning of an article quickly, but I can’t talk freely and fluently. There are many reasons, one of which is that written English is different from spoken English.
Many of us make the mistake of writting articles as if we’re writing copy that wil be read aloud. Meanwhile, a lot of us are trying to imitate the style that television news are written in. When we watch the TV news, pauses and stops are not rare. However, when we read the books, beautiful long sentences are more attractive.
Both spoken English and written English are important, the advice to us who are making this mistake is to practice talking with other people and to read high-quality published work as much as possible.
In my opinion,written English and spoken English are two forms of study of English.They have much difference.Except for the author’s saying of “written English is formal and spoken English is informal”.Writing requires to make many words togerther to constitute accurate sentences.If you gain more words and grammar,you can write better.while speaking just use some easy and oral words and body language to delivery message.Maybe all of us know their difference,but we ofen think that whether our grammar is wright when we are speaking in English.It is because of this habit that lead to we can not speak very well.I think the author is also to tell us that oral English is natural.It is not limited by the logic and structure of English.Just speaking in your own words which can let yourself be understanded by others.
EDITOR’S NOTE: CHINESE ENGLISH MAJORS DO KNOW THE RULES OF ENGLISH BETTER THAN MOST NATIVE L1 ENGLISH SPEAKERS. WHAT IS BETTER, KNOWING THE RULES OR BEING ABLE TO USE THE LANGUAGE NATURALLY?
I can not agree with the author more. Spoken English is different from written English and spoken English is informal. I have heard from someone that foreigners whose native language is English do not know the grammar clearly. Some Chinese are better than them. Our teachers always tell us Chinglish is not good, we must speak formal English. I think it is unnecessary, when speak English, what we should do is say what we want to say and make sure others understand what we are saying.
I think so. I have learned so many years’ English.But I discover I can read and write English better than listen to and speak English.When I speak English with others in daily life,no matter how many words ,set phrases and dialogues I keep in my mind,I feel there is almost nothing help to express what I think clearly.Although I understand spoken English is informal,when I speak English,I have to limit myself with the rules of written English.So I prefer written English to spoken English.
The reason for my prefer is that I can practice written English with English readings.English is a kind of language.It needs to be remembered and taken practice frequently.It also asks for a good environment for its practice.English readings is the good environment for written English.But in Chinese speaking surroundings it is hard to find or create an environment to speak English.Without the practice I lost my confidence and courage to speak English out.And I don’t like speaking English slowly by slowly.
Maybe if there was a real speaking English environment where I must think and talk in English,I would like spoken English.Then my English level will be better.
Yes, I’m also sure that written English is very different from spoken English. At the past, we emphasized writing much more than speaking because we just had written English examinations in China. So nowadays most of us are good at writing compared to speaking.
At the same time, our spoken English is weird. Because it’s a little too fomal and not the normal way of communication.
So I think we should take more oral practices, which are really useful in daily conversation.
The author’s viewpoint just tells us the real thing about learing english .We write the passage using words and phrase different from the speaking due to the real condition and the expressing emotion in our daily life .From this point ,we may exactly agree with the passage’s perspective .Because spoken english is used to communicate with each other , when we can understand your friends’ meanings .And writen english is another expressing’ lifestyle.Then we need take different strategys to deal with them.
I can’t agree more. There are great differences between written English and spoken English. It is a little ridiculous that the majority of Chinese students are good at writing skills but not so good at speaking in English. In my opinion, the primary function of a language is to communicate with others. Though in Chinese schools, the main purpose of learning English is to pass exams, just like the university entrance examination ,CET-4 and CET-6, which naturally causes a large number of students with very high scores in English exam but can hardly talking to foreigners in very simple English. The fundamental solution of this abnormal situation is to reform the current educational system. Of course it is easier said than done, but at least we are trying to change it. As for individuals, to practice more and more without shame and fear is the best way to improve spoken skills.
There are many differences between writing and oral English, but it is beneficial to point out that there are also many genres of writing and oral English respectively. In writing English, we have novels, essays, and poems, etc. As for oral English, we interact with different people in varied contexts where subtle changes are needed for a successful communication. Therefore, it is a continuum between the level of formality.Typical formal occasions using writing English include writing an essay, a report, or business letters, while less formal ones can be writing a birthday card to your friends or keeping a diary. Formal oral English can be applied to meetings,seminars and making speeches.A flexible learner of a language should be able to use different expressions accordingly.
Writing and speaking are very important parts of language . So do in English . At the most of the condition , written English accords with spoken English , but , sometimes written English and spoken English are different . Just like above , written English is formal and spoken English is informal . For example , when we like some food , we may say yummy in spoken , but , if we write in some paper , we must use “delicious” , They are different . Of course , Memorizing set phrase or other written English is useless in daily conversation . Another example , we often say “a lot of” in daily conversation , in written English we use “A great many” instead .
So , we can see , spoken English even be flexible and arbitrary , written English are fomal .
It’ s about the issue of register.For the non-native speakers like us,it’s difficult to speak and write in the appropriate register for the situation.We have to consider the tone of the conversation and the relationship that is built between the speaker and listener.
I don’t agree that written English is formal and spoken English is informal.Some words are formal or informal(while other words may be neutral)is one thing,but some words are associated with either spoken or written language is another.
Truly, there are so many differences between the two types. After so many years’ studying English, we used to writing or answer the problems in paper, we have little chance to practice in oral. So, we chronically think a lot of grammar even when we are talking with others. We spend too much time in thinking. Sometimes, I used to talk with people from Austrian. I tried to speak sentences without grammar mistakes and usually failed. They understood me well, too. Don’t worry about the simple words or short sentences, just make you understood. Of course, it’s important to study grammar, advanced words and long sentences when we read and write. But, take it easy when we talk.
We should firstly to figure out what the function of these two ways. Writing is to describe something in details. One sentence must be in a brief way and substantial in content, the structure is clear. So writing must be formal and strict. However speaking is a tool of communication, so we needn’t speak in a written way, because if the sentences are too long to grasp the meaning, we can’t understand at once. It is inconvenient for us, so we can speak in short sentences and informal.
I think that,as a language,writen and spesken are important for English,which types all can express someone’s idea,but as means of expession,speaken English needs agile thinking and writen English needs smooth wording,they so different from each other.
However ,sometimes they are same for me,they are all difficulties which need work to overcome!
I think that,as a language,writen and spesken are important for English,which types all can express someone’s idea,but as means of expession,speaken English needs agile thinking and writen English needs smooth wording,they so different from each other.
However ,sometimes they are same for me,they are all difficulties which need work to overcome!
Of course, written English is different from spoken English. No matter which kind of language is, the relation between writing and speaking is all the same. For most Chinese, it is much easier to learn written English than spoken one. Because Chinese people are so good at memorizing phrases and accomplishing paperwork, that they would learn the complex grammar extremely well. Also we have enough time to modify our word when writing, while we need instant reaction when having conversations. Most of us, in my point of view ,need more practices about spoken English. That is why we have oral English class here and try to make it 24/7 English.
I think both are very imlportant for us to study english. But as a non-native english speaking country, we need more chances to practise our spoken english.
I’ve relaised that all my knowledge about English is deaf English ,is just Chglish.I want to change ,and wanna be a very good English speaker.Written English and spoken English are different,I agree with this opinion.Maybe, I should pay more attention to both of them and do my best to improve my oral.
As the writer wrote that written English and spoken English are different.Written English is formal,and spoken English is informal.Although the purposes of them are similar.They are all used to help people exchange their ideas easily.Usually spoken English is simply and clearly.The all words are common,and sometimes it can’t mange the grammar strictly.But the written English must mange the grammar strictly.And to some extent the written English should pay attention to the beauty of language.
I believe so. It is very common to meet some interesting words or phrases when we see a movie. Some sentences may seem improper in written English, but we use them a lot in daily conversations. Imagine the actors only use written English and without any spoken English in dramas, it will be strange. Of course, written English is important and useful in business which requires formalities.
I think speaking English will be the bigger challenge for us.Because we hardly use it in our everyday life,but we need to pass one exam after another.So many of us just know how to write rather than say.But the market competition requires not only written English but also speaking English.We must find the balance of these two kinds of English.
Yeah, Written English and Spoken English are two different things. For myself, sometimes I often missed the words when I want to express my meanings in Oral English. And I didn’t pay attention to the logic of words when speaking English. On the contrary, I can write the whole sentence easily. Maybe you have more time for consideration when you are needed to write something. For me, Spoken English is more important and I should try to enhance it this term. Every day I listen to the 15-60 news on VOA and try to speak following the broadcaster. One teacher also advises me to watch the soap opera “Friends”, which is helpful for daily conversation. I will try. While, my determination is the most important and I’m confident I can do it.
Of course writing is different with speaking. But I don’t think the difference is about formal or informal.
Here is the difference: when you are writing, you have a lot of time to consider what to write; but when you are speaking, you have to response immediately. And memorizing and writing are helpful in daily conversation, because they help us to get familiar to the language.
Yes, it is definitely the fact. While I am talking to an English speaker, there would not be much difficulty between us. Because we don’t need to care much about the grammar, and we can feel the real meaning through the interaction between us, even though we may not be able to express our ideas accurately in English. Well, in daily conversation, words and sentence patterns we use is greatly different from what we read and what we write.
Because of the absence of interaction, we need to write every sentence accurately, or else we would not be able to make ourselves understood. As a result, we need to practice more in writing, since it is more difficult than talking with each other in English.
Writing, reading, listening and speaking are four inseparable components of any English learning. It is true that writing and speaking are quite different. I can speak casually but I should write formally. To some extent, speaking is more important than writing, because language is for communication and speaking does in daily life. That is why illiteracies can speak fluent English in the west while we Chinese students can even express our mind in a proper way. After all, our final objective is for communication. Dumb English is useless in some ways.
Since we are having holistic English classes, writing and speaking English are equally important. However, there do exist great difference between written English and spoken English. For instance, when you are speaking, grammar mistakes would be tolerated. As long as you can be understood by your listeners, Chglish won’t be blamed or discriminated. But written English is more formal and it reflects your “face” sometimes. You have to pay much more attention to grammar and spelling mistakes. Your article must be organized in a logical structure. There are so many disciplines! No matter what’s the relationship between written and spoken English, we should try our best to command both skills to contribute a higher forward to holistic English!
Spoken English is the language used in verbal communication.Generally,it is shorter and more flexible than writing English,but less rigorous.Writing English,literally speaking,is the language used in writing.It is more accurative and more rigorous than speaking English.
Spoken English and writing English is the unity of opposition.The former is the basis of the emergence and development of the latter,but they interact each other and develope together.
Because there are a certain differents between spoken English and writing English,we should distinguish them in reading.
This article is short but thought-provoking. We Chinese students are used to treating English as a course but neglect the most important meaning of a language—communication. Because we do not distinguish between speaking and writing, we often do well in the English exams but speak very poor English. The difference between speaking and writing deserves more attention by us.
In my opinion,spoken English tends to be different from written English in some fairly obvious ways. For instance,we have time to plan our message in writing, but that is impossible when using the spoken form of English. We often use words like “well”, “You see” in spoken English. But in written English we tend to avoid these words. These kind of words and phrases add little facts , but tell us something about the attitude of the speaker towards the context and audience. We often use Hesitate fillers, like “um”, “err” while we think of what next to say. Moreover,in spoken English we may fail to complete the sentence and mix up one grammatical construction with another. These do not occur in written English.
However,written English and spoken English have mang in common.So I don’t think that memorizing set phrases or other written English is useless in daily conversation.Because it is a good method to improve our English,especially in vocabulary and grammar. If we want to make ourselves understood,we must make it clear and normative while speaking in English.
Most people know that written English and spoken English are different, like our native language, the writing and speaking of it both are different too. Some words, phrases and sentences we used when we speaking but they are not fit for writting. Maybe writing is more boring and frustrating than speaking in our eyes, when you speaking you have more free spaces. It seems that writing is difficult than speaking, however, in fact speaking is usually spontaneous and unplanned, you speak to someone who is right there, maybe he will nodding or frowning, interrupting or questioning. or sometimes, he will give you a live reaction too. Take the speech for example, the speech is usually informal and repetitive, you can say like that “What I refer to is…” or “Let me repeat again” .
No matter what the differences between spoken English and written English, as the language of English is using more and more popular, we must improve our spoken English and written English in our daily life.
Just now, I have read a Chinese article about how to learn English. There are 7 habits for learner following in the article. One of those habits is thinking every thing in English and then writing it down in English. Actually, my spoken English and written English are rooted in my thinking. So there is nearly no difference between my spoken English and written English at my stage.
I totally agree that there are lots of different between speaking and writing language.As a language, spoken English is quite relaxed. This means that there may well be occasions where someone speaks and their English grammar is not quite correct. It is therefore easy when speaking English to get away with not having very good grammar, but this will show up when the same words are written down. Speaking is basic for us to communicate ，but If you are learning English,and want to make progress in the future，then try to make sure that you don’t let your grammar show you up. So make sure that when you are speaking English you pay attention to grammar and grammatical issues. Only in this way you can make big progres.
After reading the difference between them, I think may be learning oral English from TV drama programs and movies is a better way than learning from the books.
I agree with the author’s idea that spoken English and writen English are in difference.This article is short but useful for us.In our daily life ,I think we should seize the chance to practice spoken English.Only practice can we improve our oral English abilities.Learning to think in English is the best way for us.
There are differences between speaking and writing English, however I don’t think memorizing set phrases or other written English is useless in daily conversation. Because there are still much of the two in common. Difference is not that much. Again, people use formal English in formal situations. Just like us Chinese, when we speak Chinese, words and sentences we say are informal, but when writing, such as professional papers, fictions, etc.we uses formal Chinese words. But that don’t mean memorizing those formal words is useless. So, in my opinion, they are both very important for us to learn.
I think in all kinds of languages there are many differences between speaking and writing.When you are writing, you have enough time to pay attention to every words in your article.You can think twice before you write down it.On the contrary,when you are speaking,the words and sentences are slipping from your mouth without much thoughts.What’s more,the words on the paper can be modified as many times as your want,but the sentence you have spoken out could not be take back,like the water thrown up.Therefore,writers are not necessarily good at speaking,and a good speaker may not be superior in writing.
I met a foreign friend this afternoon, and he said that my listening English is poor. In my opinion, listening English is associated with Speaking English. For most students in mainland, they spend much of the time in Paper English, which means writing and reading English. Teachers don’t care about Speaking English just because it will not appear in the exam. So , to solution the problems, maybe we can put the speaking part in the exam. But that will cause another problem: students will practice their oral English only for exam. That’s not the correct way of learning language.
Yes,written english and spoken English are different.I have been learnd English for about ten years,but I could not speak English fluently.What a shame.What is the matter?It is a problem puzzle me all the time.I really do not know why the result is far from satisfactory.And I find the key after read this article.I never try my best to speak English,I just write English,I think this is a good way to learn English.It is obvious that we never find a proper way to improve ourselves.The English speaking environment is important,and the brave is important too.I just want to say”speak loudly”.
In general,I agree with the specker’s assertion that memorizing set phrases or other written English is useless in daily conversation.Because spoken English is just a communication tool so that it only need to fully express the meaning of the speaker instead of expressing it formally and fluently.Yet,to the extent that you can aptly show off your English skill by adding the written English into your conversation,written English is not useless as the speaker said.