The key points of Josef Vachek’s theory of written language (Vachek, 1939, rev. 1959) can be summarized as follows: (1) Speech and writing are complementary, i.e., for a given communicative situation, one is more convenient than the other. Writing serves, as a rule, more specialized functions (purposes) than speech does, which makes it the marked member of the pair. (2) Writing is (a) governed by a norm of its own (social aspect), and (b) no longer a second-order semiotic system for experienced readers (cognitive aspect). Quite recently, Adam (2009) has criticized Vachek’s approach as being old-fashioned and empirically inadequate, and has suggested replacing it with a theory based “on the substance only”. The purpose of the present paper is to recall Vachek’s theory and to demonstrate that most of Adam’s arguments are irrelevant or misleading
2
Dostęp do pełnego tekstu na zewnętrznej witrynie WWW
The paper, after tidying up the terminology concerning graphic and oral communication, summarizes the main theses of Josef Vachek’s theory of written (as opposed to spoken) language. This theory is then criticized for the following aspects: the lack of distinction between norm and system, the presupposition of a universal norm and a universal function of all written as opposed to all spoken utterances, and empirical inadequacy. In this last point, the critique is supported by the results of psycholinguistic research on reading as presented in the literature, with special attention devoted to the role of phonological coding.
JavaScript jest wyłączony w Twojej przeglądarce internetowej. Włącz go, a następnie odśwież stronę, aby móc w pełni z niej korzystać.