ABSTRACT
Slander and libel are forms of defamation. Libel is defamation expressed in a form that is visible, such as writing, print, pictures, or effigies. Slander, on the other hand, is defamation by spoken communication. English common law did not distinguish between slander and libel until the 1660s. Most early defamation cases concerned slander, as would be expected in a society without widespread literacy or printing. Because courts have deemed libel to be of greater social and individual harm, they have made it easier for the plaintiff to win damages, as compared with slander suits. Changes in the technology of communication have rendered the distinction between libel and slander more difficult to maintain. There is no uniform national standard, but most courts have concluded that statements on radio and television should be considered libel, not slander. The most common forms of slander remain unrecorded speech.
