The difference betwen communicating in writing and in person

There are a few fundamental differences in the communication process when it is conducted in person, against written communication. They fall under three broad headings: language, attitude and feedback.

LANGUAGE:

The language that is written to be read is different from the language that is written to be said. The main differences are:
• Grammatical - spoken language is less correct
• Repetition - spoken language uses more repetition, while written texts let you go back and read again what you might have missed
• Sentence length - speech requires shorter sentences
• Directness - speech requires you to get to the point of a sentence quicker
• Vocabulary - written texts tend to have a higher level of vocabulary

ATTITUDE:

Written texts are usually read in the absence of the author, and their meaning is coloured by the reader, not the author. Spoken texts are always coloured by the author's delivery.

Spoken texts are more likely to be intended to influence the feelings as well as the thinking of the audience. They are therefore more likely to reveal the speaker's intentions. Written texts can be more subtle.

The speaker can use oratorical devices such as repetition and rhythm to stir the emotions. Sound adds much to the effect of words, especially if the words also make powerful pictures in the minds of the listeners.

FEEDBACK:

• The speaker can see how the audience is reacting, and adjust his/her delivery.
• The speaker can go back and explain in greater detail if necessary.
• The writer cannot take back what has been written. The speaker can (sometimes) take back what might have caused misunderstanding or offence.
The speaker can be influenced by the listener more readily than the writer by the reader.

Although there are rules in common (for example, in following the sequence of Persuasion), it is essential to treat these two forms of verbal communication differently, both in the preparation and in the delivery.

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Lost in translation

Every time a text is translated from one language to another, something changes. If you translate back and forth between English and a a succession of different languages, you could quickly lose the sense of what you started to say.

Here's one example:

Original English Text:

With the recent launch of the ONETEAM plan the ELT and I thought it would be a good idea to create a dedicated forum to keep you updated on the progress we are making and, at the same time, each engagement team will have the opportunity, on a voluntary basis, to give an update on the progress they have made on their own engagement plan.

Translated to French:

Avec le lancement récent du plan d'ONETEAM le ELT et moi avons pensé
que ce serait une bonne idée de créer un forum dédié pour vous
maintenir mis à jour sur le progrès que nous accomplissons et, en
même temps, chaque équipe d'enclenchement aura l'occasion, sur une
base volontaire, de donner une mise à jour sur le progrès ils ont
accompli sur leur propre plan d'enclenchement.

Translated back to English:

With the recent launching of the plan of ONETEAM the ELT and me
thought that it would be a good idea to create a forum dedicated to
maintain you updated on progress that we achieve and, at the same
time, each team of interlocking will have the occasion, on a voluntary
basis, to give an update on progress they achieved on their own plan
of interlocking.

Translated to German:

Mit dem neuen Starten des Planes von ONETEAM das ELT und ich, die Gedanke, dass es eine gute Idee sein würde, ein Forum herzustellen, das eingesetzt wurde, um Sie beizubehalten, auf Fortschritt, den wir erzielen und gleichzeitig jedem Team des Ineinandergreifens änderte hat die Gelegenheit auf freiwilliger Basis zum eines Aktualisierungsvorganges auf Fortschritt zu geben sie auf ihrem eigenen Plan des Ineinandergreifens erzielten.

Translated back to English:

With the new starting of the plan of ONETEAM ELT and I to manufacture a forum the thought that it would be a good idea, which was used, in order to maintain you, on progress, which we obtain and at the same time to each team of interlinking modified has the opportunity on voluntary base to a updating process on progress to give it on their own plan of interlinking obtained.

Translated to Italian:

Con nuovo cominciare del programma di ONETEAM ELT ed I produrre una
tribuna il pensiero che sarebbe una buona idea, che è stata usata,
per effettuarli, su progresso, quale otteniamo ed allo stesso tempo ad
ogni squadra di collegamento modificata ha l'occasione sulla base
volontaria ad un processo d'aggiornamento su progresso darlo sul loro
proprio programma di collegamento ottenuto.

Translated back to English:

With new beginning of the program of ONETEAM ELT and producing a
tribune the thought that would be a good idea, that has been used, in
order to carry out them, on progress, which we obtain and at the same
time to every square of modified connection it has the occasion on the
voluntary base to a refresh process on progress to give it on theirs
just program of obtained connection.

Translated to Portuguese:

Com começo novo do programa de ONETEAM ELT e produzir um tribune o
pensamento que seria uma idéia boa, isso foi usado, a fim
realizá-lo, no progresso, qual nós obtemos e ao mesmo tempo a cada
quadrado da conexão que modificada tem a ocasião na base voluntária
a um processo refrescar no progresso para lhe dar em dele o programa
justo da conexão obtida.

Translated back to English:

With new start of the program of ONETEAM ELT and to produce one
tribune the thought that would be a good idea, this was used, the end
to carry through it, in the progress, which we gets and at the same
time to each square of the connection that modified has the occasion
in the voluntary base to a process to refresh in the progress for
giving to it just in of it the program of the gotten connection.

Translated to Spanish:

Con el nuevo comienzo del programa de ONETEAM ELT y producir una tribuna el pensamiento que sería una buena idea, esto fue utilizado, el extremo para llevar con él, en el progreso, cuáles conseguimos y al mismo tiempo a cada cuadrado de la conexión que se modificó tiene la ocasión en la base voluntaria a un proceso a restaurar en el progreso para darle apenas adentro de él el programa de la conexión conseguida.

Translated back to English:

With the new beginning of the program of ONETEAM ELT and to produce a tribune the thought that would be a good idea, this was used, the end to take with him, in the progress, which we obtained and at the same time to each squaring of the connection that modified it has the occasion in the voluntary base to a process to recover in the progress to just give inside of him the program him of the secured connection.

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