Written Discourse

Going by the title, one who is proficient in language studies would have immediately and definitely identified me as a predominantly English writer.

I am and I am undoubtedly going to write about written discourse. Perhaps less in the content but rather my fascination of it.

In the regular world of normal human beings, writing is possibly the most defined of all reflections of thoughts. In the caveman times when words were not born, drawing, I believe is the most defined form of reflection of thoughts. In fact, personally I still thinking drawing is; with a multitude of colours and dimensions, unrestricted amount of canvas and so many mediums how can one not fully express his thoughts in drawing? The only problem with it is that it is often mis-communicated to the audience.

Much like the Chinese, I say. Chinese texts are often thought provoking and indirect as researched by Connor (1996; in the course notes), they are also the reader's onus to be profound enough to extract and understand the deeper meaning within. Abstract drawings are very much like that, don't you think?

This art piece is "New Love" by Chidi Okoye.
I got this piece of art off this web site on 17 Sept 2009 so all credits should go to them and the artist. You can also purchase this piece of art from the website, I think. Just don't sue me. I am using the picture for educational purposes. (:

What does it depict? Honestly when I first saw it I thought it was an upside down toucan. Seriously!

But upon closer inspection, I realised that that beige thingy on top looks a little like a cow's udder so maybe it is not an upside down toucan.

So that is just me. I am totally a left brainer and have completely no clue about arty farty stuff. But to the artist, it represents "New Love". Perhaps the love of a new born (Does it explain the udders? Haha!), a new found interest, a new lover, or a new perspective. Only the artist herself can fully comprehend; but it reflected her thoughts of "New Love" truly in an unconstrained manner.

So for quicker and more effective communication, people write instead of draw. It doesn't matter if your writing reflects your thoughts, what matters is what is the message being communicated. In actual fact, writing has become so predominantly regarded as the absolute discourse of communication. Contracts have to be in writing, all official announcements have to be in writing, reflections after a class have to be in writing, even something as sacred as love and marriage has to have terms written down in the form of pre-nuptial agreement!! What happened to good ol' trust?

Maybe those are just the English writers. If you examine the purpose of writing, the English writers seem to have quite a bit of insecurity issues hence the straight line approach of getting straight to the topic as proposed by Kaplan (1972; in the course notes).

For a 1972 research, the Chinese then were a lot less aggressive and still happy being in their closed up committee hence the circular and enclosed writings with the main point made in the center.

For the French, German and Spanish, they were riding on the growth of Europe yet not as enterprising. Amidst the busy work and schedules, there is no excuse not to make time for tea. When reflected in their writing, they would start and end at the same point, but no harm stopping by to smell a flower eh? (: If you were to conduct the same research in the present day, would they still be like that?

This suddenly puts so many factors to consider into examining writing discourse. If only we do not live in the world of regular normal human beings....

In the supernatural world, there is telepathy; which I think is an awesome gift if one can switch it off at will. Imagine knowing EXACTLY what is going through politicians' minds when they are attending parliament, probably sun, sand, sea.. :p Or knowing exactly what your partner thinks so that facebook and other social portals can get rid of that annoying "It's complicated" status for relationships!