Written or Spoken Word: Which is the more powerful?

[Jenne]

Which do you believe is the more powerful? The written word (the pen is mightier than the sword and all that), or the spoken one (if you say it, it might happen, etc.)?

I'm interested to know what everyone here thinks...

[Athena-Nadine]

I think it depends on the circumstance and on each person.

[Pesha]

Put the spoken word along with the written word and you can convey so much. Here in the Net we rely on the written word and have to hope we understand. But if we could talk and have our words heard as well alot of confusion might be eleminated.

BB
DS.

[Flaire-FireStar]

I say spoken, because you can get more from hearing a person talk, as well as the body language and the way they say it...

But then again, that's just me. :T

[Cev'aq]

I believe it depends on the holder of power referred to. In the case of the spoken word, the speaker has more power, due to inflection and tone. If it's the written word, the reader has more power due to the reader's imagination. Although this seems "equal", it isn't, because the level of power depends on the speaker's skill or the reader's imagination and/or visualization skills. A poorly delivered but well written speech, for example, has less power than a dynamic passage being read by a person with great imagination.

[Athena-Nadine]

Storm, I was going to tell you this yesterday, but I spaced it. I love your Av!!!

[Angel]

I chose the written word, but then I'm an aspiring writer so I'm biased.

[BellaWild]

Hmmmmm. At first I was going to say, "The written word, of course!" But now that I actually think about it, I think they both have equal power in different situations. There are some things that just don't make sense unless written down, and others that need the added oomph of someone's voice.

[Rockprincess]

I said they're equal, because I thought you meant in terms of spell-work. For me, intent is the important thing in spell-work, so whether you write something or say it is equivalent.

However, in other situations, Stormwolf has very eloquently explained my opinion.:)

[Morrighana]

One day I wrote her name upon the strand,
but came the waves and washed it away;
agayne I wrote it with a second hand,
but came the tyde, and made my paynes his pray.

Vayne man, sayd she, that doest in vaine assay
a mortall thing so to immortalize,
for I my selve shall lyke to this decay,
and eek my name bee wyped out lykewise.

No so (quod I), let baser things devize
to dy in dust, but you shall live by fame:
my verse your vertues rare shall eternize,
and in the hevens wryte your glorious name.

Where whenas death shall all the world subdew,
our love shall live, and later life renew.

Edmund Spenser, Sonnet 75


You might guess, I voted for the written word... for a number of reasons, of which I will name two. First, as the very remembrance of this sonnet attests, the written word has a much greater chance at survival than, say, the sweet nothings Spenser whispered in his lover's ear on the day he wrote it. My second reason is that the written word is on the whole crafted with more care than the spoken (granted, the internet is greatly perverting the art, but in the true craft of writing ---as opposed to day-to-day correspondences, the deterioration of which is an incredibly great pet peeve of mine--- I maintain my point).


I do not deny recognition of the power of the spoken word in making my choice, though, but I do believe that it's power, like it's essence, is transitory. Sure, a person may say something profound and touching that one remembers for years, but eventually that remembrance fades. On the other hand, who can discount the value of finding one's old letters from friends and family alike, and the joy of being able to read them with fresh eyes? Certainly not I.


I suppose I should mention, I take the term "spoken word" to mean verbal communication of all sorts (not just prepared speeches, which in fact I would consider part way between spoken and written, as they are composed in the same fashion as true written works and then simply read aloud. Also, those speeches which carry the greatest impact depend not solely on the speaker's passion, but that of the words themselves; thus, the speeches have a very similar effect on their audiences when transcribed.

[iaphoenix]

Being a newspaper reporter I'm biased, but I go with the written word. People keep clips of newspaper articles. When's the last time you saw an audiocassette or VCR tape in a scrapbook?

Just my two cents.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

The way I view it is pretty simple (at least it is in my mind), nothing has power unless you give it power. Cruel or insensitive words, whether written or spoken, only have the power to hurt or offend if you allow them to hurt or offend. Conversely, kind words or compliments, are only pleasing if you allow them to be so.

Anyhow, I think you all get my point.

~Saoirse Aiyana

[RubyRose]

I'd say it depends on what you are trying to convey, so far, I've found the written word easier and far more effective ... but I can scream and yell with the best of them, when I need to get something across ... :lol:

[Scarlettvixen]

i think they both have power in different ways

[hedgecub]

You might guess, I voted for the written word... for a number of reasons, of which I will name two. First, as the very remembrance of this sonnet attests, the written word has a much greater chance at survival than, say, the sweet nothings Spenser whispered in his lover's ear on the day he wrote it.

I fully agree with Morrighana.
For example, countless songs and stories from cultures have been lost due to the cultures not having a system of writing, so that as the centuries passed, the stories were slowly forgotten. Other cultures, on the other hand, have preserved their legends by writing them down, and these legends are still read and enjoyed by people today. Thus, over time, the spoken word fades to silence while the written word has a much greater chance of enduring (barring any torching of libraries, of course).

Another point in favour of the written word:
At least for me, I find books in dead tree form much easier to absorb and understand than books recorded on tape. This is because with a book, it is much easier to flip backwards or forwards to information that you require, whereas with a tape it's a bit of a problem rewinding or fast-forwarding to the topic you want. Thus, if partway through a book, it refers to a topic covered previously but which you've forgotten, it's very easy to flip back and refresh your memory, while it's harder to do that with a tape.

*adds her 0.02p to the barrel*

- little cub

[SylverStar]

That's actually a toughie. I think that there is more focus behind the written word but with focus the spoken word is just as powerful.

[Flar's Freyja]

I voted "other" - I believe that they have equal power but also should be used together, with emotion that is consistent with the same energies and -

It also depends on the individual. One method may be more powerful for different people. For instance, writing down my goals, rituals, etc. is a bit more powerful for me than the spoken word.

[teyl]

I voted "other" I am partial to the fact that 'looks can kill'. I have seen grown men cry from a certain look. Not to mention that beautiful moment when eyes connect across a crowded room and intentions can laid out, negotiated and accepted within seconds.....