Speaking of Writing and Writing of Speaking

The distinction between speech and writing is traditionally felt to be fundamental to any discussion about language. Indeed, many would find the difference so basic and obvious that they might question the need to devote any space to it at all. The distinction is transparent, they might say. Speech uses the transmitting medium of 'phonic substance', typically air-pressure movements produced by the vocal organs, whereas writing uses the transmitting medium of 'graphic substance', typically marks on a surface made by a hand using an implement. It is simply a physical thing. The study of sounds is one dimension; the study of symbols is another; and that is that apart from the nuisance of having to bring the two dimensions together when getting to grips with spelling.