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The Communicative and Cognitive Functions of Written Language

University of Paderborn

That written language is not an image of oral language can be deduced from functions; it has an independent role in linguistic communication. As an independent system of signs, written language mediates between its producers, recipients, and reality. The fact that various written languages in their development have made use of essential principles of oral language can be attributed to methodological economy. In this respect the stages of "phonetization" are no doubt remarkable events in the history of written and oral language. They are of fundamental importance for the further development of both. Nevertheless phonetization in no way inherently defines written language. The effects of written language and its motivation are investigated. Taking historical determination as a basis, both of them lead from the contemporary, manifold interrelations between oral and written language to the search for the original causes and conditions for the emergence of written language. The emergence of written language results from social needs and the individual needs these include, which are in turn conditioned by concrete historical circumstances.

Written Communication, Vol. 3, No. 1, 81-89 (1986)
DOI: 10.1177/0741088386003001006


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