The Perception of Spoken and Written Language

Kydyrbay Gulzhazira

School of Liberal Arts, KAZGUU University

Soc 112133: Sociolinguistics

Anar Ibrayeva

December 18, 2022

In linguistics, the perception of spoken and written language is an important area of study. This is

due to the fact that spoken and written language are the two main forms of language, and they are

used for a variety of purposes and in a variety of contexts. Despite their similarities, however, spo-

ken and written language are received differently by speakers and listeners, and these differences

are worth investigating and comprehending.

The purpose of this study is to better comprehend the differences between spoken and written lan-

guage, as well as how these differences affect how speakers and listeners perceive language. This

entails investigating how speakers and listeners perceive these two types of language, as well as

how these perceptions may influence how language is used and perceived. Using a quantitative re-

search method, the goal of this study is to analyze and compare perceptions of spoken and written

language. This entails gathering data from a sample of individuals via surveys and questionnaires,

and then analyzing the data using statistical methods.

This study's problem statement aims to identify and define major differences in perceptions of spo-

ken and written language, as well as to investigate how these differences may affect language use

and comprehension. Data will be collected from a sample of participants who are able to speak and

write in both spoken and written language and have used the language in a range of circumstances.

Data will be collected and evaluated using statistical methods using a survey.

This study will help us understand perceptions of spoken and written language by giving informa-

tion about the differences between the two forms of language and how these differences impact

speakers' and listeners' perceptions of language. The findings of this study will be valuable to for-
eign language teachers, researchers, and others who are interested in how spoken and written lan-

guage are perceived and how this affects language use and understanding.

Research Question/Idea

The research question about the perception of spoken and written language may be as follows:

How does the medium of communication (spoken or written) affect how speakers and listeners per-

ceive language, and how does this affect how language is used and understood in different con-

texts?  This concept can be investigated in a study that uses a combination of questionnaires to eval-

uate perceptions of spoken and written language. The findings of this study can provide information

on the distinctive features of spoken and written language, as well as how these features influence

how speakers and listeners perceive and use language.

Literature Review

The perceptions of spoken and written language and how the medium of communication influences

speakers' and listeners' perceptions of language are topics covered in a variety of literature. This lit-

erature review includes both theoretical studies that have looked at the distinctive features of spoken

and written language and their effects on language use and understanding, as well as empirical stud-

ies that have investigated this topic using research methods like surveys, experiments, and observa-

tions.

One important source of literature on this topic is the work of Janet Holmes, a New Zealand soci-

olinguist. Holmes (2008) claims that the medium of communication (spoken or written) —can sig-
nificantly affect how speakers and listeners perceive and use language. Holmes (2008) investigates

how the medium of communication might impact how language is understood and used in various

circumstances in her book "Introduction to Sociolinguistics". According to Holmes (2008), the way

written language is utilized in certain circumstances can be influenced by the perception that it is

more formal and permanent than spoken language. For instance, written language is commonly uti-

lized in formal documents, contracts, and other legal contexts where accuracy and precision are re-

quired. Speaking is generally more informal than writing and can be utilized in informal or social

contexts where accuracy and precision are less important.

Holmes (2008) also reflects on how the medium of communication can influence how speakers and

listeners perceive and understand language. Research, which she studies, demonstrates that written

speech is frequently perceived as more formal and difficult to perceive than oral speech, which

might cause misunderstanding or confusion in some circumstances. Oral speech, on the other hand,

is usually considered of as being more direct and is capable of better expressing emotions and inten-

tions.

Another important source of literature on this topic is the work of Deborah Tannen, a linguist and

professor at the University of Georgetown. «Talking Voices: Repetition, Dialogue, and Imagery in

Spoken Discourse» by Deborah Tannen is a thorough examination of the influence of language and

communication on social interactions and identity. Tannen (1989) examines how language is used

and perceived in many circumstances throughout the book, as well as how the medium of communi-

cation—spoken or written—can affect these activities. Tannen's (1989) research focuses on the

question of how the communication medium affects speakers' and listeners' perceptions of lan-

guage, and how this impacts language use and understanding in various contexts. The idea that the

same words or phrases can have different meanings depending on the context in which they are

used and that speakers and listeners must take this into account in order to understand language is

one of the main points Tannen discusses in the book. Tannen (1989) contends that context is crucial
for understanding spoken language since it might be challenging to perceive spoken words' mean-

ings in the absence of visual and other contextual information.

Tannen (1989) also talks about the ways in which language is utilized in social interaction to imply

power and control in addition to this argument. She points out that individuals can exert dominance

or control over others by the use of words, for instance, by interjecting or interrupting, or by ex-

pressing emotions of superiority.

Tannen (1989) also talks about the ways in which language may be used to portray closeness and

connection, as well as the ways in which using particular language forms and styles can foster a

sense of community.

A third important source of literature on this topic is the work of Anne Cutler, an Australian psy-

cholinguist. Cutler examines how listeners utilize various strategies and processes to comprehend

spoken language and how these strategies and processes are influenced by language experience in

her book "Native Listening: Language Experience and Recognition of Spoken Word".

Language experience is a key factor in the understanding of spoken words, according to one of the

main points Cutler makes in the book. According to Cutler (1988), listeners who have more expo-

sure to a language are more adept at understanding spoken words in that language. This ability is in-

fluenced by a variety of circumstances, including the age at which the language was first learnt.

Additionally, Cutler examines the impact of context on spoken word recognition. She points out

that in order to interpret spoken words, listeners employ contextual cues including the speaker's

body language, voice tone, and conversational context.

Cutler also discusses the ways in which the medium of communication might affect spoken word

recognition in addition to these points. She points out that listening to spoken words requires more

dynamic processing than reading written speech and that in order to comprehend spoken words as

they are being said, listeners must employ a variety of tactics and processes. Cutler (1988) contends
that these distinctions between spoken and written speech perception and understanding can have

important effects on how they are used.

A final important source of literature on this topic is the work of Rachel Giora. Giora (2003) makes

the point in her book "On Our Mind: Salience, Context, and Figurative Language" that the context

in which language is used and the meaning of certain words or phrases can alter how speakers and

listeners perceive and understand figurative language. For instance, the author offers research that

demonstrates how an idiom's meaning can vary depending on the context in which it is utilized. The

meaning of specific words or phrases in a text can also influence how figurative language is per-

ceived.

Methodology

For this study, the survey approach was chosen since it allows for the collecting of a big amount of

data from a broad population of participants in a relatively short period of time. Surveys are an ef-

fective technique for gathering information about attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to the re-

search question under study.

The survey was administered to KAZGUU students and consisted of a series of questions designed

to gather information about how the medium of communication (spoken or written) affects speak-

ers' and listeners' perceptions of language, as well as how this affects language use and understand-

ing in various contexts. The questions were made to be as unbiased as possible in order to avoid bi-

asing participants' responses. For example, the survey was used to obtain information on how stu-

dents prefer to communicate (e.g., face-to-face, by phone or video, or in writing), to ask about their

experiences with misunderstandings or difficulties in communication.

tion environment influences students' perceptions of language as well as how they use and perceive

language in various contexts. The survey data was analyzed using a selection of statistical ap-

proaches. These included statistics and diagram types. These methods allowed to discover trends

and patterns in data and develop conclusions regarding the relationship between medium of com-

munication and language perception, use, and understanding.

Understanding how the medium of communication affects language perception, use, and under-

standing is crucial for a variety of reasons, which is why this research question is being investi-

gated. Understanding these relationships, for example, can help teachers in developing more effec-

tive language learning tools, as well as business people in communicating more successfully with

clients and colleagues. Furthermore, understanding these relationships can help researchers better

understand how language is used and perceived in various contexts, which can have crucial implica-

tions for a variety of domains such as psychology, linguistics, and education.

Findings

The responses to the question "How

often do you communicate using spo-

ken language versus written lan-

guage?" from the 7 participants from

KAZGUU University suggest that there is an equal distribution of preferences for spoken and writ-

ten communication. 33.3% of participants answered they usually use written language, 33.3% al-

most always use spoken language, and the remaining 33.3% use both equally.

Despite the small sample size, these findings suggest that the medium of communication may not

have a substantial impact in how this group of students perceive and use language. It is possible that
o ther factors, such as language proficiency or cultural background, could have a stronger impact on

language use and perception.

Based on the answers of the question which

stated "«In what contexts do you tend to use

spoken language versus written language?»,

it can be concluded that  face-to-face conver-

sations are the most frequent context for the

use of spoken language, with 71.4% of participants who reported using spoken language in this con-

text. Phone or video calls, group meetings or presentations are likewise the most popular contexts

for spoken language use, with 42.9% of participants using it in these contexts.

The most common contexts for using written language were text messaging or messaging and social

media, with 57.1% of participants reported using written language in these contexts. It is worth

mentioning that while the question allowed for multiple responses, some participants may use spo-

ken language in these contexts as well.

These findings imply that the context in which a medium of communication is used can influence

its effectiveness. For example, where recording of the conversation is required, such as in email or

social media, written communication may be preferred, whereas spoken communication may be fa-

vored in more direct or face-to-face encounters, such as face-to-face conversations or phone calls.

Based on the answers of the question which

stated «How do you perceive the formality of

spoken language compared to written lan-

guage?», it can be concluded that there is a dif-

ference in the formality of spoken and written language. Spoken language is generally more formal,

according to 28.6% of participants, and written language is similarly formal, according to the same
proportion. There was little difference in formality between the two, according to 14.3% of partici-

pants, and the remaining 28.6% replied it depended on context and situation.

These findings show that this group of students may have distinct opinions on the formality of spo-

ken and written communication. Personal experiences with various modes medium of communica-

tion, as well as cultural and linguistic factors, may influence perceptions of formality.

Based on the answers of the question which

stated «Do you feel that the tone of a message is

conveyed differently in spoken versus written

language?», it can be concluded  that the majority

of participants (85.7%) agree that the tone of the

message differs in spoken and written language. In particular, 42.9% of participants said that the

tone of the message is conveyed differently in oral speech, and the same proportion reported that

the tone is conveyed more precisely in oral speech. According to 28.6% of participants, tone trans-

mission was affected by context and situation.

These findings imply that the medium of communication may influence how the message's tone is

perceived. Nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions and intonation, may aid in the transmission or

perception of tone in spoken language. In contrast,

written language may rely more on word choice and

punctuation to express tone, which can lead to misun-

derstandings or differences in perception.

 It can be concluded from the responses of 7 partici-

pants that the majority of participants found it simpler to express themselves in one medium of

communication than another. Specifically, 42.9% of participants said that it was easier to express
themselves orally, whereas the same proportion reported that it was easier to express themselves in

written form.

The ability to think on the feet and speak spontaneously (42.9% of participants) was the most preva-

lent reason they found it simpler to communicate their thoughts orally. The immediacy of spo-

ken communication (14.3% of participants) was another reason they found it easier to communicate

their opinions orally.

The most common reason why respondents found it simpler to express themselves in writing was

that they had more time to think about and carefully craft their words (42.9% of participants). An-

other reason it was simpler to express thoughts in writing was the ability to convey meaning and de-

tail (14.3% of participants).

These findings imply that the medium of communication has an impact on how people express

themselves and transmit their thoughts and emotions. Personal preferences and experiences with

various medium of communication may determine which medium is easier for a person to express

themselves.

According to the responses of 7 participants to the question «Have you ever misunderstood the

meaning of a message due to the medium of communication", all of them confirmed having misun-

derstood the meaning of a message at least once due to the medium of communication. This implies

that the medium of communication can influence how messages are understood and that misconcep-

tions might occur as a result.

Misunderstandings can occur for a variety of reasons, including the medium of communication.

Written communication, for example, may lack nonverbal indicators such as facial expressions and

intonation, making it difficult to interpret the tone or meaning of a message. Misunderstandings in

verbal communication can occur due to factors such as poor communication or background noise,

which can make it difficult to perceive and understand what is being said.
According to the responses of 7 participants,

the majority (71.4%) believed that the medium

of communication influences how speakers use

language. Speaking, according to 5 participants, allows for more flexibility in language use, but

writing needs more planning and editing, and the medium determines the level of formality or infor-

mality of language use.

These findings imply that the medium of communication has an impact on how language is utilized

and constructed. Because of the ability to think on the go and use nonverbal cues such as tone and

facial expression to convey meaning, spoken language may provide more flexibility in language

use. Because of the lack of nonverbal cues and the necessity to rely on word choice and punctuation

to express meaning and tone, written language may necessitate more planning and editing.

According to the results of the survey's last

question, the majority of respondents (57.1%)

agree that the medium of communication (spo-

ken or written) effects language use and under-

standing in personal contexts. One possible ex-

planation for this outcome is that the medium of communication influences how the listener or

reader perceives and interprets language. Oral speech, for example, could be viewed as more infor-

mal or personal, whereas written speech may be perceived as more formal or professional. This can

have an impact on how language is understood and used in various contexts.

It is also worth noting that 28.6% of participants feel that the medium of communication influences

language use and understanding in all contexts. This shows that there is a mutual understanding

among these participants that the medium of communication can have a major impact on language

use and perception.

language use and perception in any circumstance. This conclusion is worth noting since it may indi-

cate that other factors have a stronger impact on language use and perception in different circum-

stances.

Conclusion

To summarize, the perception of oral and written speech is a complicated and complex topic with

important implications for communication and language learning. A survey was conducted in this

study to collect data on KAZGUU students' perceptions on spoken and written communication.

Overall, the findings of this study reveal that perceptions of spoken and written communication are

influenced by the environment in which they occur, with each form having its own set of advan-

tages and disadvantages. These findings have implications for language education and learning, as

well as use of technology in communication.

The research process included creating and distributing a survey to a sample of students. Despite the

study's small sample size, the findings provide insight into university students' perceptions of spo-

ken and written language.

Overall, this research improved the understanding of spoken and written language perception and

the factors that affect it. This study can inform communication methods in a variety of situations by

identifying the advantages and disadvantages of each type of communication.

Cutler, A. (1988). Native Listening: Language Experience and the Recognition of Spoken Words.

Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Press.

Holmes, J. (2008). An Introduction to Sociolinguistics (4th ed.). Routledge.

Tannen, D. (1989). Talking Voices: Repetition, Dialogue, and Imagery in Conversational Dis-

course. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.