Spoken Discourse Analysis vs. Written Discourse Analysis

Attribute	Spoken Discourse Analysis	Written Discourse Analysis
Medium	Oral	Written
Formality	Often informal	Can be formal or informal
Interactivity	Immediate feedback	No immediate feedback
Non-verbal cues	Includes gestures, tone of voice	Does not include non-verbal cues
Spontaneity	More spontaneous	Less spontaneous

Introduction

Discourse analysis is a field of study that focuses on the analysis of language in use. It examines how language is used in different contexts and how it shapes and is shaped by social interactions. Spoken discourse analysis and written discourse analysis are two subfields within discourse analysis that focus on analyzing spoken and written language, respectively. While both subfields share similarities in their goals and methods, there are also key differences between them.

Context

One of the main differences between spoken discourse analysis and written discourse analysis lies in the context in which the language is produced. Spoken discourse analysis focuses on analyzing language that is produced in real-time, such as conversations, speeches, or interviews. This means that spoken discourse analysis often involves analyzing the interactional aspects of language, such as turn-taking, interruptions, and non-verbal cues. On the other hand, written discourse analysis focuses on analyzing language that is fixed in written form, such as books, articles, or emails. This means that written discourse analysis often involves analyzing the structural and rhetorical aspects of language, such as organization, coherence, and style.

Data Collection

Another key difference between spoken discourse analysis and written discourse analysis is the way in which data is collected. In spoken discourse analysis, researchers often collect data through audio or video recordings of spoken interactions. This allows researchers to capture the dynamic nature of spoken language and analyze the nuances of spoken communication. In contrast, in written discourse analysis, researchers often collect data through written texts, such as books, articles, or transcripts of spoken interactions. This allows researchers to analyze the static nature of written language and examine the textual features of written communication.

Transcription

Transcription is an important aspect of both spoken discourse analysis and written discourse analysis, but the process of transcription differs between the two subfields. In spoken discourse analysis, researchers often use a system of symbols to transcribe spoken language, capturing features such as intonation, pauses, and overlapping speech. This allows researchers to analyze the prosodic and paralinguistic features of spoken language. In contrast, in written discourse analysis, researchers do not need to transcribe the text, as the language is already in written form. Instead, researchers focus on analyzing the textual features of the written language, such as grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation.

Analysis

Once data has been collected and transcribed, researchers in both spoken discourse analysis and written discourse analysis engage in the process of analysis. In spoken discourse analysis, researchers often focus on analyzing the interactive and dynamic aspects of spoken language, such as turn-taking, repair, and backchanneling. This involves examining how speakers use language to negotiate meaning and maintain social relationships. In contrast, in written discourse analysis, researchers often focus on analyzing the structural and rhetorical aspects of written language, such as organization, coherence, and argumentation. This involves examining how writers use language to convey information and persuade readers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while spoken discourse analysis and written discourse analysis share similarities in their goals and methods, there are also key differences between the two subfields. Spoken discourse analysis focuses on analyzing language that is produced in real-time, while written discourse analysis focuses on analyzing language that is fixed in written form. Spoken discourse analysis often involves analyzing the interactional aspects of language, while written discourse analysis often involves analyzing the structural and rhetorical aspects of language. Despite these differences, both subfields play a crucial role in understanding how language is used in different contexts and how it shapes and is shaped by social interactions.