ABSTRACT
Both oral and written discourse are expressions of language and therefore exhibit certain shared features, such as dual structures and rule-governed systems. Writing is not, however, as commonly believed, simply oral language expressed through print. Written language extends and builds on the oral language system but does not replicate it. Both the purposes to which written language is put and the situations in which it is framed differ from spoken language (de Beaugrande, 1984; K. Goodman & Y.Goodman, 1979; Purcell-Gates, 1989). Although at times the two expressions of language can be used interchangeably, such as a telephone call substituting for a letter, each expression is particularly useful for particular types of communication in particular circumstances. In fact, the development of written language was most likely driven by the need for a language form to meet specific situations not well served by spoken language. This difference in purpose and in context of situation impact the nature of written and spoken language and result in different internal characteristics.
