From Troglodyte to Shakespeare

Writing, for today's purposes, is the use of widely recognised symbols set out in a specific pattern that carries meaning to the reader. Considering the drawings found on the walls of caves, this really hasn't changed too much since cro-magnon times.

Pre-writing times (as we understand the term 'writing' today) may have found verbal skills as the most important, perhaps with the use of hand gestures and gesticulations to provide emphasis and accuracy. The use of writing can 'paint a picture in the reader's mind', and often we find such imaginative expressions being used in teaching creative writing courses.

If writing were enough to convey a message there would be no need for in-person contact, as we could simply jot down our thought, use some conveyance method to have it delivered to our intended reader, and have them interpret meaning from the symbols, characters, and sequencing of those 'words'. However, with 55% of messages being conveyed using body language, 35% of the message being conveyed through the tone and inflection of the voice, that leaves only 10% of the messages' accuracy to be conveyed through the words selected.

Strong and effective writing skills provide for a message to be written in a semi-permanent and consistent way, carrying a message for multiple readers to see over time, rather than the spoken message which may quickly become interpreted rather than translated, and thereby lose its original meaning in its conveyance.

Everyone can write, whether through the use of illustrations, words, SMS characters, or any other generally recognised symbolisation. However, not everyone can write well. And not everyone can understand everything that is written. It requires training in the written symbolism to read that symbolism well. Also, even well written prose can lose its meaning in translation. So, reading and writing go together. Here's an example of what I mean.

Der schnelle braune Fuchs ueber den faulen Hund springt.

With even a limited understanding of German and a strong understanding of English pangrams, you may recognise the expression as one used to teach typing skills with the use of all of the letters of the English alphabet included. However, when translated into German in this manner, the pangram no longer exists, and we are left with a sentence that, while having some interesting meaning, may well leave the reader confused as to why a fox would leap over a dog, unless trying to escape from it.

Using examples such as this in the classroom to emphasise the importance of writing, and learning to do it well, may well help L2 learners to understand why literal translation doesn't work too well in writing, especially when you are trying to understand whether to be or not to be, that is the question?

TTFN