Orality and Literacy Chapter 1

Grapholect: The dictionary defines it as a standard written language (such as Standard English) but the way the author describes brings up standard oral communication as well. There are many things we say in day to day conversation that are considered incorrect. Context, word confusion, actually making up new words unintentionally, all may violate Standard English. Some of these elements, particularly in regards to context, may be totally ignored, others, especially regional dialects, may be pointed out as poorly phrased. The thing is, had any of these inaccuracies been present far enough in the past, they would have been accepted as linguistic quirks or even alter the rules of the language itself. Though clarity is important in communication, people are often greatly looked down upon when they misspeak, even though those rules are based on the rules of written language, which are subsequently attempts to organize and systematize oral language, which has worked perfectly fine for all of human existence without any rules at all.