features of written + spoken lang

General Characteristics: Spoken language is characterized by spontaneity and interactivity. It often resembles how informal conversations occur among friends, emphasizing the real-time, dynamic nature of speech.

Spoken language is typically unplanned and unfolds in real-time, leading to several unique features:
- False Starts: Situations where a speaker begins to say something and then restarts, indicative of the spontaneous nature of conversation.
- Repetition: Words or phrases may be repeated for emphasis or to allow the speaker time to think, reinforcing points made verbally.
- Rephrasing: The speaker may express the same idea in different words, aiding clarity or understanding.
- Fillers and Pauses: These include sounds or expressions such as "um," "er," "like," or moments of silence, which are used to hesitate and maintain control over the conversation.

Definition: These are non-verbal elements essential for conveying emotion and meaning within spoken language. Analysis of transcripts should focus on these elements as they provide context and depth to the conversation.

Description: Words or phrases such as "right," "so," "you know," and "anyway" guide the flow of conversation. They help structure interactions and signal the speaker's intentions to the listener.

Spoken language often incorporates various features of non-standard grammar, which includes:
- Contractions: Examples include "don't," "can't," and "it's" which are commonly used in casual speech.
- Elision: The omission of sounds or syllables, such as "gonna" (going to) and "wanna" (want to), reflecting informal speech.
- Ellipsis: The practice of omitting words or phrases when the context provides clarity, for example, using "Coming?" instead of "Are you coming?".
- Simpler Sentence Structures: Spoken sentences are often shorter and less complex than those typically found in written language.

Key Aspects: The interactive nature of spoken language is defined by several elements:
- Turn-taking: The manner in which speakers alternate, contributing to a conversation without significant overlap.
- Adjacency Pairs: This refers to conversational pairs like questions followed by answers or greetings followed by responses that naturally complement each other.
- Back-channelling: Listeners may use sounds or brief words such as "mm-hmm," "yeah," and "right" to indicate engagement and encourage the speaker to continue.
- Context Dependence: The meaning conveyed often relies heavily on the shared context, environment, and interpersonal dynamics between speakers.

General Characteristics: Written language is generally more planned, permanent, and formal compared to spoken language. It can be compared to more structured forms like essays or newspaper articles.

Written language is characterized by its permanence, allowing it to be reread, edited, stored, and referenced at any time, creating a lasting record of communication.

Written language tends to be more thought-out, drafted, and revised prior to finalization, in contrast to the spontaneity of speech.

Adherence to Language Rules: Written language follows standard grammar, which includes:
- Standard English: Compliance with grammatical conventions.
- Complete Sentences: Ensuring proper subject-verb agreement and the use of proper punctuation, reflecting a higher level of language proficiency.
- Complex Sentence Structures: The incorporation of subordinate clauses and varied sentence lengths adds depth and complexity.

Visual Elements: These crucial components include layout, headings, paragraphs, font choice, images, and punctuation, all of which contribute to meaning and organization in written text.

Characteristics: As written language lacks the vocal tone, pitch, and body language present in speech, writers must express meaning purely through words and visual presentation. Consequently, the language used is often more explicit than in spoken forms.

Written language is typically monologic, primarily involving one writer, although dialogic forms such as letters and emails do exist.

Understanding Without Context: Written texts are designed to be understood without the need for immediate shared context, meaning that the information presented must be explicit and clear for comprehension.

Linking Ideas: Cohesion in written language is achieved through the use of conjunctions, pronouns, and lexical chains that create smooth connections between ideas across sentences and paragraphs.