Because writing has become so important in our culture, we sometimes think of it as more real than speech. A little thought, however, will show why speech is primary and writing secondary to language. Human beings have been writing (as far as we can tell from surviving evidence) for at least 5000 years; but they have been talking for much longer, doubtless ever since there have been human beings.

When writing did develop, it was derived from and represented speech, although imperfectly. Even today there are spoken languages that have no written form. Furthermore, we all learn to talk well before we learn to write; any human child who is not severely handicapped physically or mentally will learn to talk: a normal human being cannot be prevented from doing so. On the other hand, it takes a special effort to learn to write. In the past many intelligent and useful members of society did not acquire the skill, and even today many who speak languages with writing systems never learn to read or write, while some who learn the rudiments of those skills do so only imperfectly.

To affirm the primacy of speech over writing is not, however, to disparage the latter. One advantage writing has over speech is that it is more permanent and makes possible the records that any civilization must have. Thus, if speaking makes us human, writing makes us civilized

The word “advantage” in the last paragraph most closely means .................

Câu hỏi liên quan

• According to the passage, what is TRUE about origin of tea drinking?

• What is the similar meaning to the word “octogenarian”?

• What does “they” refer to?

ZUNIA12

• It can be inferred from the passage that a person’s learning style ..............

• M.L. was ................. by the atmosphere in which he grew up.

• Brown algae would most likely be found________.

• What is the topic of this passage?

• Which of the following crops was cultivated primarily by men?

• What does Bethan conclude about Facebook?

• It can be inferred from the passage that the previous passage probably discussed ________.

• The word "fine" in the passage is closest in meaning to ______.

• Which of the following is the author‟s main point?

• According to paragraph 4, what makes it possible for students in Germany to attend different universities during their undergraduate studies?

• How do theorists believe a person can remember more information in a short time?

• The word -lethal‖ in the second paragraph probably means ............

• The final product of the process of drying liquids that uses the first method will be ______.

• The word “those” in paragraph 2 refers to __________.

• The phrase “in season” in line 1 refers to ________ .

• Students who continue studying at university after having graduated are called .........

• From the expression “on record” in line 19, it can be inferred that the tsunami that accompanied the Krakatoa volcano ___________ .