Oral vs. Written Texts: Characteristics & Types

Posted on Feb 12, 2025 in Pedagogy

Oral vs. Written Text: Key Differences

Oral text, the most natural way of communication, is a way to maintain contact with the world. It forms part of everyday life.

Characteristics of Oral Text:

  • It has been the *only* form of communication for many centuries.
  • Spoken words play a dominant role in communication, favoring human relations.
  • The channel for oral texts is *auditory*.
  • Oral texts are **spontaneous** and **instantaneous**.
  • They are highly dependent on context, including the people involved and the location.
  • Oral communication is interactive, allowing for corrections or input from participants.
  • Oral text is more ephemeral than written text.

Characteristics of Written Text:

  • Writing is a code that is *not* learned spontaneously and did not appear until 4000 BC.
  • It serves to conserve and save information, allowing reflection on facts.
  • The channel is *visual* or *tactile*.
  • Written contexts tend to be more finished, with a particular structure based on the idea.
  • Communication is slower.
  • It is more independent of context than oral communication.
  • The transmitter and receiver are not in direct contact.
  • It is enduring, a finished product available to the reader.

Linguistic Elements of Spontaneous Oral Text

  • The syntax of oral texts is complex to analyze because of ellipses, unfinished sentences, repetition of conjunctions and words, and variations in sentence elements.
  • Exclamatory and interrogative sentences are frequently used. Syntactic structures favor juxtaposition and coordination.
  • The phatic function of language is characteristic, with frequent calls to the recipient’s attention.
  • The lexicon of oral texts is generally simpler than that of written texts. Fillers, phrases, repetition of words, and slang are common.
  • Structure:
    • Beginning: Greeting.
    • Body: Defines the subject, purpose, tone, and the kind of relationship between participants.
    • Closing: Uses linguistic and paralinguistic forms.

Types of Non-Spontaneous Oral Texts

The Debate

A debate is a controversial dialogue aimed at exchanging views on a specific topic. Discussion is based on an idea presented with reasons for or against it. It is directed by a moderator who introduces the topic, regulates the timing of interventions and turns, and summarizes the main ideas in a final recap.

The Tertulia (Gathering)

A tertulia is the result of spontaneous cooperation among several participants. It involves an exchange between different individuals found in a particular time and place to discuss current issues. Sometimes a moderator may be present to initiate, change the subject, and conclude the gathering.

The Conference

A conference is the presentation and explanation of ideas to an audience to facilitate understanding. Regarding linguistic features, the conference is closer to written text than spoken words because it requires preparation. Its structure is usually as follows:

  1. Introduction: Arouses the public’s interest in the subject, outlining the parts of the speech and highlighting its importance and history.
  2. Development: Presents the content of the topic based on different ideas, usually following a chronological order.
  3. Conclusion: The speaker concludes with a recapitulation of the most important points.

The Interview

An interview is a dialogue between an interviewer and an interviewee. It aims to obtain information, opinions, or insights about a person. Two main types of interviews exist, based on their purpose:

  • **Informational interviews:** Seek to obtain an opinion on a particular topic.
  • **Psychological interviews:** Aim to understand the personality of the interviewee.