Speech vs. Writing (was Re: Chinese writing systems)

Mat McVeagh wrote:
> I guess in conclusion I am a 'speechist', I believe speech is primary over
> writing.
I used to be.  Now, I see them as co-equal, or with speech as being
possibly a little more important than writing.  The two are distinct
media.  Some reasons against pure pro-speech bias:

Writing is generally one-way, speech is generally two-way; thus writing
must be clearer than speech, because there is no chance to clear up
misunderstandings.
Speech usually has a specific audience, rarely more than 2 or 3 people
(excepting things like prepared speeches), while writing is often to an
unspecific audience, thus one can rely more on context in speech, having
shared knowledge with the listener
As a corollary, homophones should be distinguished if some dialects
distinguish them.  For example, I pronounce "pen" and "pin" the same
way.  If I'm speaking to a person who has the same homophony, they will
be used to that homophony (and hence, to looking for context to
disambiguate), but if I'm speaking to someone who pronounces them
differently, they may not, and thus there's more chance of confusion.  I
could clarify if I'm speaking to them ("No, I mean, like, a pen that you
write with"); one is used to using context to disambiguate the
homophones of one's own dialect, but less so for other dialects.
Writing is generally long-term; speech is usually ephemeral.
Writing allows some things that are impossible in speech (tables, for
example)

I could come up with more, but it's 5 in the morning here, and I
should've been in bed long ago.  :-)  In summary, speech and writing are
two different, tho related, forms of communication, and neither can be
said to be dependent on the other.

--
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you just have to find people who are dorky the same way you are." -
overheard
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