One written word matches one spoken word

I don’t think it’s exactly correct to say that in Finnish there is [more] «effort to keep the written and spoken versions in sync».

I don’t speak Finnish, but there is an interesting discussion on the blog Languagehat that I think is relevant: Finnish Language Maintenance. You would know better than I to what extent it is true, but my impression from what I have read about Finnish is that there is a situation of moderate diglossia: there is not one spoken version and one written version, but there are different versions of the language for «formal» use and for spontaneous use.

In Finnish, the «formal» version of the language is written, but also pronounced differently from the «spontaneous» versions (which is why standard Finnish has to be «maintained»). In other words, standard Finnish is a rather «artificial» language that speakers don’t think of as having to be the same as the language that people naturally grow up speaking. It’s easy to say that the spoken version is «in sync» with the written version because neither is expected to be the same as what native speakers use by default.

This is not the case for standard written English! For the most part, English speakers write as they speak, and are accustomed to thinking that they should speak as they write. There is no body that defines «standard» or «current» English language; it’s just the most prestigious form that is based on things like the usage of famous writers of the past and powerful, upper-class or influential people of the present. The cultural expectation is that the language used in everyday situations by a native speaker with educated parents is «good» English. It’s not just an artificial standard that no one is expected to follow outside of formal or written situations.

The language I’m using in this post is more or less the same as the language I would use speaking to a friend. Writing means that I can think about my words more, and so use more complex sentence structures, but the words and word forms that I’m using are all pretty normal for me in any kind of spoken situation.

Now, this situation exists for me as a relatively «privileged» American. There are certainly people who naturally speak varieties of English that aren’t considered standard. However, they aren’t just under pressure to use more «standard» forms in writing: they are also expected to speak «good» English in situations like job interviews, at minimum, and a number of people act as if using non-standard forms in any situation is «wrong».

There are some areas of pronunciation and grammar that tend to become simplified in informal contexts.

• For example, I occasionally do say /wʊmən/ by accident for the plural form of «women», and although I don’t think this is very common, I have read anecdotal reports of other people doing this (see New Zealand pronunciation of «women» vs «woman»). This pronunciation of «women» is stigmatized as uneducated. Spelling «wimmen» would also be stigmatized as uneducated. People with a good education are supposed to know unintuitive correspondences like this; if they were more regular, they would be easier to learn with less education.

• Verbs with distinct past and past participle forms are fairly often simplified to make these the same (see Is the past participle becoming obsolete? (I have went)); particularly for certain classes of verbs, like the ones with i-a-u alternation such as drink, drank, drunk (many speakers use drank as a past participle).

But these kind of situations are not the norm. Most native English speakers don’t say «spoke» because they consciously decided to do so: they say it because it’s what comes naturally to them. So it makes sense to also write «spoke».

Of course, the letter-by-letter spelling of individual words in English is infamously irregular, but to an English speaker this is expected. To most people, it doesn’t seem as artificial as using different inflections or grammar when writing would.

Today’s guest post is by Avery White. Avery writes short stories and spoken word, and is currently working on his first novel for middle grade readers. He runs thirdpersoncreative.com, a site dedicated to weaponizing stories against injustice, prejudice, and passivity in the world around us.

“Respect the poet!” the crowd shouts at a couple at the bar oblivious to what’s going on.

Silence.

Slowly, alliterative spoken word sends chills across my neck, down my arm, and into my chest.

I’m feeling words as my eyes stare rapt at the stage.

Literary devices fly with syllables punctuated by inflection. Poetry one line, prose the next. The performer pauses. It’s 2008, and I’m hooked.

I was first introduced to spoken word while taking a creative writing class in college. I then got involved with a local spoken word community in Bryan, Texas called Mic Check, where the scene above happens weekly.

And today, I’m showing you how to craft your own powerful spoken word piece.

How to Speak Spit Spoken Word

What!?

You mean you weren’t born with an innate ability to write poetry, combine it with performing arts techniques, and rhythmically deliver a piece with clever intonation?

Performance poets weren’t either. Even if their names are Sarah Kay or Madi Mae.

Do you have feelings?

Do you wish you could let them go out, terrorize the neighborhood for a bit, and then come home to you without doing any damage (the kind that costs you money)?

Got a pen?

Let’s do this. Here are four steps to writing spoken word:

1. Tell a Story

If you’ve never written spoken word before, you might feel overwhelmed, unsure where to start. But this type of writing isn’t as foreign as you might think. It can follow the same pattern as a conventional story: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

First, pick a theme you’re passionate about. Putting something down on paper knowing that you’re going to read it out loud later is terrifying, but having passion from the start will help carry you through. And if you’re a writer, you need practice putting fear down anyways!

While there are as many ways to begin writing as there are poets, a way that I have found particularly effective is to start with a “gateway line,” a single line that captures your theme. For example:

• “Do not keep the silence golden.”
• “Looking past Earth.”
• “Life is not ajar.”

To demonstrate this, I’ll write a (short) piece around the following line:

“Practice is failing on purpose.”

Now that I have my gateway line, I’m ready to revisit my dramatic structure: what can I surround my line with? At this point I might make a list of a few plot options:

• A little boy learning to ride a bike
• A guy practicing how he’s going to start a conversation with the girl of his dreams
• A girl exploring the definition of true beauty

I fully intend to reveal something about practice that applies to craft development, but I’m going to do it by juxtaposing it with something wildly different. This will show the audience something about practicing their craft, as well as the subject of the plot.

Spoken word lets you do that. How cool is that!?

2. Flesh It Out

Now that you’ve chosen your plot, it’s time to flesh it out into a story illustrating your theme. This is where you, as the writer, get to shine! How compact can you make it?

At this point you might be thinking that this is remarkably similar to writing anything else. You’re exactly right — it is. That’s why I’m writing this out, to show you that you can do it!

I’ve decided to write a piece about an eight-year-old boy who decides to try to ride his bike sans training wheels. Now, I ask questions to flesh that concept out:

What does he look like? Where is this? How long as he been trying to do this? Why is this important?

Most importantly, why should my audience care about him?

First draft:

Age eight with skinned knees bleeding from the last attempt he pushes two blue wheels uphill.

This time.

Salt touches his tongue as he tilts his face towards the summit. This was his Everest.

He was done training. The two wheels sat lifeless in the garage watching him from a distance.

He believed that with enough speed he could roll forever. The extra weight only slowed him down.

He fought to push the past crashes from his mind as he trudged up Mount Failure.

This was his practice.

3. Read It Out Loud

Once you have something down, read it out loud to evaluate how it sounds. Do you like what you hear?

Spoken word fills the gap between predictable patterns found in traditional forms of poetry and the art of prose. Every literary device, every poetic device, and anything clever you can think of to do while you’re on stage is all fair game. For now, let’s revisit the first draft, tighten the diction, and spice things up with a bit of poetry.

Second draft:

Age eight, and skinned knees pleading he pushes two blue wheels uphill.

This time.

Salt touches tongue as dirt-faced determination drives him to the summit. His Everest.

Two training wheels cry abandoned. Concrete floors and walls lined with tools can get so lonely.

He believed that with enough speed he could roll forever.

Long enough to run the errands that his mother couldn’t.

He fought to push past crashes and knee slashes from his mind as he scaled Mount Failure.

This was his practice.

4. Perform

Now that you like what you’re hearing, start asking performance related questions. This could include questions related to theatre, music, or even dance.

Do you want a part of it to read faster to give it more of a hip-hop sound? Or slower to make it more dramatic? Either way, it’s up to you to figure out how you’re going to read it.

And there you have it — four steps to writing your first spoken word.

Do you write spoken word poetry? What do you find most challenging about it? Let me know in the comments.

I’m going to be the contrarian, I guess. Many faiths throughout history and around the globe have rich oral traditions that are passed down by spoken word and have various rituals which include both actions and spoken words. Just off the top of my head, I think of the importance among those of the Jewish faith and among Native Americans, of sharing traditions by spoken word to the next generation. There’s a significant difference, I think, between reading something or saying, «My grandfather told me this.» When we hear someone express their experiences and beliefs orally, it becomes more real, more personalized; and thus, it carries more influence (power) to make changes in the listener.

It has long been recognized that there is great power in a spoken word. For instance, in human relations, when you speak someone’s name to them aloud, it is easy to establish a rapport with them. Historically, in various cultures, whether we accept it or not, speaking someone’s name was believed to give one power over that person.

It is also commonly held that the best way to learn something is to teach it… i.e., optimally, to transmit our knowledge to another by spoken word. There’s something about having to form our knowledge and beliefs into spoken words that engages a part of our brain with the task of organizing and clarifying the information and to find the most effective way to share it with others. In the process of putting these concepts into words, we come to a deeper understanding of them ourselves such that they have more power to affect our own lives.

Certainly, the spoken word is easily misinterpreted sometimes, as pointed out by the others, but so is the written word; and when a word is spoken, it carries the passion of the speaker along with the message. Think of speakers at rallies who whip up a crowd. Think of world leaders, heroes and tyrants who have given impassioned speeches that have moved vast audiences to action. Think of politicians (if we must). Would they prefer to hand out leaflets, or speak to an individual or crowd in person?

My belief (and I would speak it aloud to you if I could) is that the spoken word carries more power and influence than the written word.

answered
07 Oct ’10, 06:29

John
4.2k●1●12●40

1
Reading

1. n геогр. Рединг

2. n подготовка, занятия

3. n начитанность, эрудиция

4. n публичное чтение; читка

light reading — лёгкое чтение, развлекательная литература

5. n лекция, доклад

6. n формулировка; вариант текста

7. n толкование, истолкование; интерпретация, понимание

8. n полигр. читка корректуры

9. n спец. отсчёт; показание

10. n спец. считывание

11. n спец. спец. показатели, данные

12. n спец. парл. чтение

speed reading — скорочтение; система скоростного чтения

13. a читающий, любящий чтение

14. a предназначенный для чтения

Синонимический ряд:

1. interpretation (noun) approach; commentary; conception; execution; impression; interpretation; performance; realisation; rendering; rendition; treatment; version

2. perusal (noun) absorbing knowledge; examination; inspection; interpreting; learning; perception; perusal; scanning; skimming

3. recitation (noun) declamation; extract; lecture; narration; oration; public recital; quotation; recitation

4. the written word (noun) account; digest; excerpt; literary work; literature; material; passage; printed matter; the written word; transcription

5. reading (verb) indicating; marking; reading; recording; registering; saying; showing

6. seeing (verb) accepting; apprehending; catching; compassing; comprehending; conceiving; fathoming; following; grasping; make out; seeing; take in; understanding

English-Russian base dictionary > Reading

2
literature

1. n литература, печатные труды

2. n разг. литература, печатные материалы

3. n музыкальная литература

4. n литературная деятельность, профессия

5. n редк. общая образованность,

Синонимический ряд:

1. the written word (noun) account; excerpt; material; passage; printed matter; reading; the written word

2. writings (noun) books; classics; humanities; letters; poetry; prose; writings

English-Russian base dictionary > literature

3
transcription

1. n переписывание

2. n копия

3. n фон. транскрипция, транскрибирование

4. n муз. транскрипция, переложение, аранжировка

5. n радио запись

6. n перезапись

7. n биол. транскрипция, биосинтез молекул РНК на соответствующих участках ДНК; считывание генетического кода

Синонимический ряд:

the written word (noun) account; digest; excerpt; literary work; material; passage; printed matter; reading; the written word

English-Russian base dictionary > transcription

4
character

1. n характер; нрав

2. n сильный характер

3. n честность; моральная устойчивость

character building — воспитательная работа; воспитание характера, формирование морального облика

immoral character — репутация аморальной личности; аморальная личность

4. n характер; качество; природа

5. n официальное качество; положение; статус, достоинство, ранг, звание, сан

6. n характерная особенность; отличительный признак; свойство

7. n биол. признак

8. n репутация

9. n письменная рекомендация; характеристика; аттестация

10. n фигура, личность

11. n разг. чудак, оригинал, своеобразная личность

12. n лит. герой, персонаж; тип; образ, действующее лицо

13. n роль

14. n литера; буква; цифра; печатный знак

15. n иероглиф, идеограмма

16. n шрифт; графика, письмо

17. n знак; условное обозначение

18. n символ

19. n опознавательный знак; клеймо, марка, тавро

20. n кабалистический знак

21. a театр. характерный

character actor — характерный актёр ; актёр на характерных ролях

22. v характеризовать; давать характеристику, оценку

23. v арх. описывать; изображать

24. v арх. надписывать; вырезать надпись; гравировать

Синонимический ряд:

1. characteristic (noun) characteristic; features; mannerism; property; qualities; traits

2. credentials (noun) credentials; recommendation; reference; testimonial

3. disposition (noun) bent; cast; complexion; constitution; disposition; humor; individualism; make; makeup; make-up; manner; mien; nature; sort; spirit

4. eccentric (noun) case; eccentric; kook; nut; oddball; oddity; original; quiz; weirdo; zombie

6. integrity (noun) credit; fame; honor; honour; integrity; name; report; reputation; repute

7. notable (noun) big; big boy; big gun; big shot; big-timer; bigwig; chief; dignitary; eminence; great gun; heavyweight; high-muck-a-muck; leader; lion; luminary; muckamuck; mugwump; nabob; nawob; notability; notable; personage; pooh-bah; pot; somebody; VIP

9. personality (noun) identity; idiosyncrasy; individuality; mettle; personality; singularity; style; temper; temperament

11. quality (noun) affection; attribute; birthmark; feature; peculiarity; point; quality; savor; savour; trait; virtue

12. status (noun) capacity; footing; place; position; rank; situation; standing; state; station; status

13. symbol (noun) byte; cipher; digit; emblem; figure; letter; mark; sign; symbol

14. type (noun) breed; class; cut; description; feather; ilk; kidney; kind; lot; mold; order; persuasion; species; stamp; stripe; type; variety; way

Антонимический ряд:

conformist; dishonor; disrepute

English-Russian base dictionary > character

5
Cleft constructions

а)

If there has been a quarrel, it is Robert who has shot Mark. (=… Robert has shot Mark). — Если и была ссора, то это Роберт выстрелил в Марка.

б)

Of all men, it was he whom she would have chosen were she mistress of her destinies; and he was going to escape her. (= Of all men, she would have chosen him…). — Из всех мужчин, будь она хозяйкой своей судьбы, она бы выбрала именно его; и вот теперь он уходил от нее.

в)

It is to you that I must speak first. (= I must speak to you first). — Именно с тобой я должен поговорить в первую очередь.

г)

It was due to Anna’s good sense that a cautious letter was written to the uncle in Berlin suggesting that Cecilie should be taken away. ( = A cautious letter was written… due to Anna’s good sense). — Благодаря благоразумию Анны дядюшке в Берлин было предусмотрительно написано письмо с советом забрать Сесилию.

а)

But what he does do is turn his back on her and drive away, leaving her helpless and naked in the middle of the night. (= He turns his back on her…) — Но он отворачивается и уезжает прочь, оставляя ее в ночи нагой и беспомощной.

б)

That‘s where we ought to be. ( = We ought to be there). — Вот где мы должны быть.

English-Russian grammar dictionary > Cleft constructions

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• written — 1 the past participle of write 2 adjective (only before noun) 1 recorded in writing: written agreement/reply etc: You ll get a written report of my conclusions within ten days. 2 written test/exam a test etc in which you have to write the answers …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

• written — writ|ten1 [ rıtn ] adjective only before noun *** something that is written involves writing and not speaking or drawing: written records a. the written word writing in general => WRITE written writ|ten 2 the past participle of write …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

• written — I UK [ˈrɪt(ə)n] / US adjective [only before noun] ** something that is written involves writing and not speaking or drawing written records • the written word See: write II UK / US the past participle of write …   English dictionary

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