English Language vs. English Communication. Know the difference | Gradway

Are you fluent in writing the English language? Do you think you can communicate fluently in English as well? If your answers to these two questions do not match, don’t be surprised! English language and English communication are two completely different aspects. Knowing the English language is not a guarantee to become a good English communicator. And being a good communicator in English doesn’t make you proficient in the English language. So let’s find out why this is so.

Difference between English Language and English Communication

You will find many differences between the English language and English communication. You might get confused between the two while learning English so getting deeper into it will help you understand the differences better. Let us explore these differences in detail here:

Formal vs. Informal

The English language is formal while English communication follows an informal approach. You might take the liberty of using slang words like ‘Zooming’ and ‘Coronials’ while communicating but when penning it all down, you might just replace these words with formal words or sentences. Speaking is more general and can be compared to the language used in instant messaging format whereas the English language itself is more specific.

Definite vs. Rhythmic

When you write the English language, its content is more definite whereas English communication involves a rhythm. You tend to add pauses, lexical stresses, intonations, pitch, and body gestures to explain your thoughts during communication. The content of spoken English is impacted by your interaction with others and is generally not as definite as that of the language itself.

Grammar vs. Pronunciation

The English language demands the knowledge of grammar when writing whereas effective English communication is completely dependent on the right pronunciation. Your written language content must follow all the conventional rules of grammar and include punctuation. On the other hand, grammar is of no importance when communicating but pronunciation is. Wrong pronunciation leads to a wrong impression of the speaker.

Substance vs. Dilution

The English language is much more substantial and denser than spoken English. When communicating, you might use fillers, repetitions, and long explanations to better convey your meaning. It dilutes the content, taking away the language’s density.

Organized vs. Spontaneous

Since you have enough time to edit it before presenting it to someone, the English language is generally well organized when written. You can structure the written language into paragraphs and proper sentences. English communication, on the other hand, is spontaneous as you tend to improvise as you talk in real-time. One’s speech is generally less organized compared to one’s writing.

Final Thoughts

Both English language and English communication must be learned to fully understand English as a whole. The language itself is much more complex than its verbal counterpart. However, both are interdependent when it comes to learning English. If you know the language well, you can learn to communicate in it and vice-versa. Developing fluency in English communication does, however, require a little effort on your part. Continuous practice is the key to building fluency in both the English language and English communication.