Thought, Articulation and Writing
April 2nd, 2008 Posted in TammiI’ve been thinking about thinking a lot recently. The expression of thought is a subject that has particular concern for many writers. I assume that the brain functions very differently when bringing words to the tongue than it does when brining words to the paper.
Some writers like to use a voice recorder to capture ideas. I like this approach myself but I usually “rehearse” the dialog while driving, vacuuming or driving. The results are very different from using writing exercises in my experience but I really can’t explain why other than the writing is concrete and the articulated writing practice is transient.
Many writers read their work aloud in order to assure that the words flow and that the text makes sense. Simply reading what we write isn’t enough in some cases. Something changes when we hear the work.
This has been on my mind since reading about a young autistic girl and seeing her on the news. Carly was unable to communicate until she was introduced to a writing device that uses symbols and words. A whole new words opened for Carly and those close to her once she began typing.
She is now able to express her thoughts. Carly provides valuable insight into the autistic experience. “Autism is hard because you want to act one way but you can’t always do that,” she writes. More of Carly’s writings can be found here.
I’m going to write quite a bit about similar subjects this month. April is Autism Awareness Month and the subject is very closely tied to writing, expression and the creative process in my experience.
Have you ever been unable to speak your thoughts but able to write them? Is writing very different than articulating in your experience?
8 Responses to “Thought, Articulation and Writing”
By Paul Anderson on Apr 2, 2008
Oh my yes. I used to take part in public speaking and debating contests at school. Despite moderate success, I am quite a hesitant speaker in social situations, in work situations etc.
But when I write, it just seems to flow. I very often find I can write the things I can never find the words to say.
By Jodi on Apr 2, 2008
My experience is much the same as Paul’s. I am a brilliant public speaker - as long as I have a well written and rehearsed speech. And I used to be able to pull is off like it was off the cuff, because I had a pretty amazing memory … but I really am hopeless when put on the spot to answer or explain anything verbally. And this was really obvious in a particular competition that I entered as highschool that had a section where you had to wing it.
The ‘Dear John’ letter was always a favourite - I was much better able to express myself in the written word than trying to explain my feelings to another person. Thought provoking (and glad that I am not the only one struck down with this!)
By Karen on Apr 2, 2008
I am probably the world’s worst public speaker. I can usually squeak by if I’m not too nervous, but if I stop to think about all of those eyes staring a hole through me, I lose my train of thought and start stammering.
However, I believe I’m fairly articulate in my writing. I suppose this is because I have the luxury of allowing my thoughts to stew a bit and then being able to revise them before allowing public consumption. I am one of those writers who read what I wrote out loud because what sounds great in my head, doesn’t always sound that great when spoken.
I’ve always felt uncomfortable “speaking” to people. Hence the reason I abhor using the phone in any professional capacity. When I’m nervous, I tend to blab about nothing and everything and often times say things I TOTALLY WISH I could take back. So, email is really my preferred method of communication. I’m great behind the scenes, but in the spotlight? Not so much
However, if there is one thing I learned about my vocal abilities in my college public speaking class, I am a WONDERFUL actress (i.e. liar) and am quite good at faking my way through situations. I’m also QUITE good at persuading people, at least, according to my teacher.
That kind of worries me, quite frankly.
I look forward to reading more about how autism affects communication.
By heather on Apr 2, 2008
definitely count me in the ‘i write better than i speak’ department. the gap between those two sometimes astounds me.
By Benjamin Solah on Apr 2, 2008
Yeah, get it all the time. It’s why I think it’s so important to have different mediums at your disposal.
I’ve recently been having poetry floating in my head and although, I haven’t gotten to write any of it down, it manages to articulate some thoughts that my prose cannot.
By Benjamin Solah on Apr 2, 2008
And to actually answer your real question, not the thought that struck me first, I’m a mile better at writing my thoughts than speaking them, which, being an active socialist, is a problem as so much of my work at convincing others is through speaking and so I have to write my positions and arguments down before trying to articulate them verbally. My blog does very well in serving this purpose.
By the Wandering Author on Apr 3, 2008
I agree. When someone says something I disagree with, I fumble and make an idiot of myself. Then, I can sit down, write an article or an essay, and set out exactly what I object to, and why.
In fact, sometimes, if I can’t write while sitting at my keyboard, I’ll take a pad of paper and a fountain pen. That nearly always works; it seems the least intrusive interface between my mind and the page. Of course, the fountain pen has to work right, and the ink flow well, or the effect is ruined, but you get the idea. (I use mainly Pelikan pens, and only Noodlers ink, by the way.)
By Laurence on Apr 3, 2008
The one significant difference between writing and voicing views, ideas or concepts is that normally when we write, we retain the option to edit, hone or even radically alter whatever we want to say before the audience gets to see it…this is not usually the case with speech and therefore tends to cause anxiety in most of us. This explains why even the most accomplished writers can often be socially inept and tongue tied in verbal dialogue with an audience.
For me there is a certain comfort in seeing my words…sleeping on it..and then editing to get my feelings across precisely. This removes the stress of immediate articulation before censoring/editing of often ill thought out responses to events.