Essay Question: "Describe the difference between spoken and written modes in form and function".
             Speaking and writing are two different methods of communication which today's society cannot be without. The mode a person chooses to communicate with depends on a number of things such as the situation, the person giving the information and the person receiving it.
             Speech is an impermanent method of communication as it cannot be recalled due to memory problems, therefore, it is less suitable for long and complex messages. It is a instantaneous and interactive method of a communication which is why it is a useful way of communicating emotions as well as the best method for conversation. It is more likely to be informal, subjective and personal.
             The written mode of communication is fixed and permanent. Writing is more objective and impersonal and is a good method of communication to use for planning, correctness, keeping records and organisation.
             I will convey why these two different modes of communication are beneficial in different forms and how and why their functions make this so.
             In the written mode of communication, you may have a distant or unknown audience whereas in the spoken mode, you will be able to see or hear the person you are speaking to which means that speech is interactive. The other person therefore has chance to reply and ask questions. This is where minimal responses such as "mmm" and "yeah" are used to let the speaker know that they are being understood or followed. The speaker often requests this minimal response with questions like "you see" or "do you know what I mean". This is clearly displayed in Extract 1 when Henry Cockburn says
             "because its quite near you see"
             and then Henry carries on speaking. Henry probably did not want to know if the interviewer knew that "it (was) quite near", just that he was listening and followed his speec...