CONSIDER THE VIEW THAT SPOKEN LANGUAGE IS MORE IMPORTANT

THAN THE WRITTEN FORM.

While it is generally agreed that the first written language was invented in
ancient Mesopotamia more than 3000 years ago, there is no consensus on
the origin and age of the human spoken language. What makes us human, I
think, is an ability to ask questions, a consequence of our sophisticated
spoken language, citing Jane Goodall, the world renowned British
primatologist. It is thus not contentious that we say if there is no spoken
language, there will not be any written language in the first place. The history
of writing is primarily the development of spoken language by using markings
or symbols. Therefore, it is beyond question that the spoken language plays a
very important part in the evolution of the human kinds. That being said, the
question becomes: does it make the spoken language more important than
the written language? The answer is no. The importance of the spoken
language is undeniable as it is the basic mean of communication and for the
expression of emotions. However, the written language is as important, if not
more important, on its own inevitable evolution in the making and recording of
histories and discoveries.
The written language is important by the virtue of the fact that it immortalizes
the spoken sounds of words or characters. It records the communication of
the human civilization and also the views of the people, which would
otherwise be lost and forgotten in the perpetual seasons of time. The written
language plays a significant role in preserving cultural and traditional heritage.
With the introduction of the written word, histories and discoveries were
recorded for millennia, allowing people to have access to them or preserve
them for future generations. Jamais Cascio, cited as one of the Top 100
Global Thinkers, said: When we developed written language, we significantly
increased our functional memory and our ability to share insights and
knowledge across space and time. The survival and study of modern
archaeological finds - like the Mayan civilization - and religious scriptures - like
the Bible - bears testimony to the importance of the written language in
shaping the future of human civilization.
Spoken language clearly differentiates Homo sapiens from all other
creatures. None but humankind produces a complex spoken language, a
medium for communication and a medium for introspective reflection, said
Richard Leakey, a famous paleoanthropologist from Kenya. Many researchers
would agree that the spoken language formed the basis of how early humans
conveyed information of their culture and knowledge through stories, songs
and plays. It naturally evolves as a more efficient and effective form of
communication than using sign or body language, which only the human
intelligence is capable of inventing. It not only communicates ideas, but also
becomes a mean of entertainment or how ceremonial rituals are being
construed. Today, every people would speak their own language, but yet there
is one in every five people who is not capable of reading the written text,
according to global literacy statistics. In this respect, the importance of the
spoken language as a foundation of communication cannot be overrated.
The power of the spoken language is not just a mere communication tool. It
embodies the intricacies of feelings and emotions. It complements and

CONSIDER THE VIEW THAT SPOKEN LANGUAGE IS MORE IMPORTANT

THAN THE WRITTEN FORM.
amplifies the expression of thoughts and intentions by body language. It is
something that has its uniqueness and subtlety which cannot be replaced by
the written language. Eric Hoffer, an American philosopher, once argued that:
Language was invented to ask questions. Answers may be given by grunts
and gestures, but questions must be spoken. Humanness came of age when
man asked the first question. His view exemplifies the importance of speech
in advancing learning and knowledge. It shows that the spoken language can
be a sign of sincerity between individuals. Verbal conversation allows one to
gauge others responses and behaviors in person, making it more intimate
and heartfelt. The spoken language will hence go a long way to eliminate
miscommunication and help to bond people.
The written language can present communicative ideas in a precise and wellordered manner. It can be revised and thought out more thoroughly than the
spoken language. The invention is the cornerstone whereby all
archaeological, historical, religious and legal frameworks depended on. On
the other hand, the spoken language can be more communicative as it allows
for additional clarification and information in a way that written form cannot
have. It can be communicated with more than the words spoken: tone and
body language add a significant amount of information to the listener. In
conclusion, the view that spoken language is more important that the written
form is a false premise. If the spoken language is the cradle of human
communication, then the written form will be the pivot that holds them both
together.
By Dad dated 3 APR 2016 (797 words)