Editing Written language (section)

== Influence on society ==
The development and use of written language has had profound impacts on human societies, influencing everything from social organization and cultural identity to technology and the dissemination of knowledge.{{sfnp|Ong|1982}} [[Plato]] ({{circa|427}}{{snd}}348&nbsp;BCE), through the voice of [[Socrates]], expressed concerns in the dialogue "[[Phaedrus (dialogue)|Phaedrus]]" that a reliance on writing would weaken one's ability to memorize and understand, as written words would "create forgetfulness in the learners' souls, because they will not use their memories". He further argued that written words, being unable to answer questions or clarify themselves, are inferior to the living, interactive discourse of oral communication.{{sfnp|Meletis|Dürscheid|2022|p=6}}

Written language facilitates the preservation and transmission of culture, history, and knowledge across time and space, allowing societies to develop complex systems of law, administration, and education.{{sfnp|Goody|1986}}{{pn|date=July 2024}} For example, the invention of writing in ancient Mesopotamia enabled the creation of detailed legal codes, like the [[Code of Hammurabi]].{{sfnp|Roth|1997}}{{pn|date=July 2024}} The advent of digital technology has revolutionized written communication, leading to the emergence of new written genres and conventions, such as interactions via [[social media]]. This has implications for social relationships, education, and professional communication.{{sfnp|Crystal|2006}}{{pn|date=July 2024}}

=== Literacy and social mobility ===
[[Literacy]] is the ability to read and write. From a graphemic perspective, this ability requires the capability of correctly recognizing or reproducing graphemes, the smallest units of written language. Literacy is a key driver of [[social mobility]]. Firstly, it underpins success in formal education, where the ability to comprehend textbooks, write essays, and interact with written instructional materials is fundamental. High literacy skills can lead to better academic performance, opening doors to higher education and specialized training opportunities.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Snow |first=C. |title=Reading for Understanding: Toward an R&D Program in Reading Comprehension |publisher=Rand Corporation |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-8330-3105-1}}</ref>{{bsn|date=July 2024}}

In the job market, proficiency in written language is often a determinant of employment opportunities. Many professions require a high level of literacy, from drafting reports and proposals to interpreting technical manuals. The ability to effectively use written language can lead to higher paying jobs and upward career progression.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brandt |first=Deborah |title=Literacy in American Lives |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-521-00306-3}}</ref>{{bsn|date=July 2024}}

Literacy enables additional ways for individuals to participate in civic life, including understanding news articles and political debates to navigating legal documents.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Levine |first=P. |title=We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For: The Promise of Civic Renewal in America |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-19-993942-8}}</ref>{{bsn|date=July 2024}} However, disparities in literacy rates and proficiency with written language can contribute to [[social inequalities]]. Socio-economic status, race, gender, and geographic location can all influence an individual's access to quality literacy instruction. Addressing these disparities through inclusive and equitable education policies is crucial for promoting social mobility and reducing inequality.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gorski |first=P. C. |title=Case Studies on Diversity and Social Justice Education |last2=Sapp |first2=J. L. |publisher=Routledge |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-351-71072-5}}</ref>

=== Marshall McLuhan's perspective ===
The Canadian philosopher [[Marshall McLuhan]] (1911–1980) primarily presented his ideas about written language in ''[[The Gutenberg Galaxy]]'' (1962). Therein, McLuhan argued that the invention and spread of the [[printing press]], and the shift from [[oral tradition]] to written culture that it spurred, fundamentally changed the nature of human society. This change, he suggested, led to the rise of [[individualism]], [[nationalism]], and other aspects of modernity.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Leech |first=G. N. |year=1963 |title=The Gutenberg Galaxy: The Making of Typographic Man |journal=The Modern Language Review |type=Book review |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=542 |issn=0026-7937 |jstor=3719923}}</ref>

McLuhan proposed that written language, especially as reproduced in large quantities by the printing press, contributed to a linear and sequential mode of thinking, as opposed to the more holistic and contextual thinking fostered by oral cultures. He associated this linear mode of thought with a shift towards more detached and objective forms of reasoning, which he saw as characteristic of the modern age.  Furthermore, he theorized about the effects of different media on human consciousness and society. He famously asserted that "[[the medium is the message]]", meaning that the form of a medium embeds itself in any message it would transmit or convey, creating a symbiotic relationship by which the medium influences how the message is perceived.

While McLuhan's ideas are influential, they have also been critiqued and debated. Some scholars argue that he overemphasized the role of the medium (in this case, written language) at the expense of the content of communication.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lister |first=Martin |title=New Media: A Critical Introduction |publisher=Routledge |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-415-43161-3}}</ref> It has also been suggested that his theories are overly deterministic, not sufficiently accounting for the ways in which people can use and interpret media in varied ways.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Carey |first=James W. |title=Communication as Culture |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-203-92891-2 |editor-last=Carey |editor-first=James W. |edition=Rev. |pages=96–112 |chapter=Overcoming Resistance to Cultural Studies |doi=10.4324/9780203928912-12 |editor-last2=Adam |editor-first2=G. Stuart}}</ref>

=== <span class="anchor" id="Diglossia"></span><span class="anchor" id="Digraphia"></span>Diglossia and digraphia ===
{{Main|Diglossia|Digraphia}}
Diglossia is a sociolinguistic phenomenon where two distinct varieties of a language{{snd}}often one spoken and one written{{snd}}are used by a single language community in different social contexts.{{sfnp|Ferguson|1959|pp=325–340}}

The "high variety", often the written language, is used in formal contexts, such as literature, formal education, or official communications. This variety tends to be more standardized and conservative, and may incorporate older or more formal vocabulary and grammar.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hudson |first=Richard A. |title=Sociolinguistics |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-521-29668-7}}</ref> The "low variety", often the spoken language, is used in everyday conversation and informal contexts. It is typically more dynamic and innovative, and may incorporate regional dialects, slang, and other informal language features.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Romaine |first=S. |title=Bilingualism |publisher=Blackwell |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-631-19539-9}}</ref>

Diglossic situations are common in many parts of the world, including the [[Arab world]], where the high [[Modern Standard Arabic]] variety coexists with other, low [[varieties of Arabic]]  local to specific regions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Badawi |first=Elsald |title=Modern Written Arabic: A Comprehensive Grammar |last2=Carter |first2=Mike G. |last3=Gully |first3=Adam |publisher=Routledge |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-415-66749-4}}</ref> Diglossia can have significant implications for language education, literacy, and sociolinguistic dynamics within a language community.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Myers-Scotton |first=Carol |title=Multiple Voices: An Introduction to Bilingualism |publisher=Blackwell |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-631-21936-1}}</ref> 

Analogously, ''[[digraphia]]'' occurs when a language may be written in different scripts. For example, [[Serbian language|Serbian]] may be written using either the [[Cyrillic]] or [[Latin script]], while [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] may be written in [[Devanagari]] or the [[Urdu alphabet]].{{sfnp|Coulmas|2002|pp=231–232}}