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When people talk they talk casually, so why is it, when we write, we feel we need to whip out a thesuarus and use a bounch of big words we don't use in regular speech? Who are we trying to impress that we didn't feel we needed to impress when talking?

That is my main problem when it comes to writing, weather it be less or more than how you talk. The same way I roleplay is the same why I would verbally tell the story if I were to pick it off the top of my head. So, why is it that people alter their writing from their talking? Isn't it the same in the end? Weather you give the impromtu or write the spur of the moment summary?

Actually it IS a good point, worth bringing up and worth addressing. Sorry, I think I wrote a novel in response. This sort of thing just gets me so excited! It's more or less related to some of the formal schooling that I have had and plan to have. I see this sort of argument a lot but I usually ignore it if it's between two people with a large gap of experience, expertise, talent, reasonability, and what have you between them. But it's definitely not this time, so I'm bouncing off the walls. I hope my experience and general excitability buys me a pass on at least one verbose post, say, once a month? burning_eyes

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I do write differently than I talk. In fact, sometimes I wish that I could write even better than that with ease.

In some ways it's all a moot point because no way of talking is better than another-- no language or dialect or slang or whatever is better than another. That idea is instilled in us by our schools, and the way of speaking that they promote is almost always the way of the upper classes in any society. Such is life. It creates, almost artificially, a distinction between plain ole speech and formal writing. Have you ever noticed that there are more conjunctions in the written word?

In fact, I have noticed that many people actually dumb down how they talk. And can you blame them? One of my friends got made fun of in school because she used the word MIA. Well here in the south, with a military base near where we live, you'd think that every one would know what that meant. But no, she got accused of trying to talk down to people.

Most people develope different modes of talking (and acting) in different social situations because of things like this. For instance, I might use the word "courteous" at home but I might be less likely to use it at school, and certainly not at work. These modes extend to the writing world, where, ignoring personal ambition and stubbornness for a moment, people tend to be influenced by what other people expect of them. If you're RPing this certainly applies, because part of the goal is just to get along with the other players. For instance someone in an RP you're in might prefer something a little more "wordy" but they'll compromise happily for what you post because it is still what is often incorrectly termed "literate" round here.

And then there really IS more that separates writing from plain ole speech and it doesn't have to be artificially created. What it comes down to is that you have more time to think about what you type, even if, like me, your WPM is in the 60s. In speech it can be more important to convey what you want to say quickly and concisely, while in writing diction can become more important and "concise" suddenly has a different definition (another word that I would not use at work).

And then there's the fact of "passive" knowledge and "active" knowledge. Passive knowledge is what you are using when you read or listen. Active knowledge is what you use when you produce speech or writing. You can gain quite an expansive vocabulary from reading. But if it's not to your benefit to use those words at school, and you end up never actually saying or writing them for whatever reason, well you still know what they mean put they never get put into "active" vocabulary. I run up against this sort of problem all the time when learning Spanish! Someone learning another language can always tell you that they can read or listen to more than they can speak or write.

And then there are even more mysterious things, like the different areas of your brain that deal with vocalization, listening, writing, and reading. In fact there are two distinct areas for speaking, one that deals with diction and one that deals with grammar (more or less).

So speaking, reading, writing, and listening may all feel the same to you or it may feel quite different. Well, it's both. smile Some people have great adaptability in these areas because they pick up social cues so easily. Others don't even want to adapt. People get snubbed if they talk like they "should" write or the write like they "should" talk. But really it's important for both of you to listen to each other because you both obviously have a magnificent grasp of the English language, but you chose to use it differently. You're just used to or are looking for slightly different social groups... all within the larger group of "literate" RPers. But you could get along fine in the same RP if you were both willing to compromise. For instance SeyernaKierstin could spice it up (more) sometimes when it gets to any important part of the RP, and Niitsu the First could relax (more) at other parts of the RP. That is not to say that either of you "should" do these things, because I'm still not convinced that either of your samples have any thing that is actually wrong with them. Just be more realistic about how you are willing to compromise and realize that once you get past a certain point of "literacy" and lack of godmodding, it gets extremely subjective!

If you can dig them up, I believe that there are some exercises that you can respond to, and linking us to your response would give us the background and the post.

FYI with learning other languages, the reason practicing outloud is so important is because you don't just learn the words intellectually but with "muscle memory" and they become active knowledge and come more easily to you.

True. And even then we see that the younger a person was when they first started learning a particular language, the less of an accent is left. This is most easily recognised if you talk to an older person who's left their home country for an English speaking country and although they have lived in the English speaking country for several decades, their accent is still strong. All because they left after they became an adult.

Anyway, I finally settled on a rp sample from last year, which hopefully isn't that confusing. The three guys in it were friends at school, this takes place 10-15 years after school finished. One note on the speach, I'm aware that Joe's speach does not have capital letters at the beginning of the sentence, its supposed to be this way.

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Luckily, Edwin had mentioned David's presence near Raven before the two showed up, otherwise, Joe would have been in the dark as to who the over-dressed man next to Raven was.

A look of amusement showed on his face when he saw that David was over-dressed yet again. It seemed that some things never changed.

The amusement soon left him though, and as David's gun ended up in his face, his aura went slightly darker at the same time as the air around him grew cold.

From the little that Raven had shared, and from the way David held the gun, Joe was confident that David was deadly. Why people pointed guns at his face rather than greeting him in a more traditonal way was a mystery to him.

He seemed to lack the fear of dying, something that any mortal being would be hard pressed to hide when on the wrong side of Davids gun. Instead, he seemed amused at David's statement that he wasn't himself, letting his gaze drift from the barrel to the owner of it.

"that's a first, having a ******** gun pointed at me because its ******** owner doesn't think I'm me. goddamnit David! who the ******** else would I be?"

He demanded to know, his amusement gone out the window when he realised that David seriously believed Joe to not be himself.

Mmm.... I have just began RP'ing for no more than 2 months or so, and would like some tips, and criticism o n my current writing style. I do hope to be able to improve and to further develop my own style of writing in RP's. Saying ahead, sorry if some things are off in grammar, English being my second language does not really help a lot when it comes to that.

This is taken from a previous RP I joined, but rather abandoned because of the lack of posts.

Brushing away his dark raven locks away from his face, Avaren lets out a small groan as he arises from his bed, Blinking his eyes to adjust to the ambiance that he was in. He picked himself up from his bed and began to recognize his surroundings. Yes, Avaren is of what most people would call a heavy sleeper. Requiring a set time of what most people define as "warming up"

Yawning ever so dreamily as Avaren gazes towards the stone clad walls of his room. Adorned with intricate wooden furniture, it is almost unimaginable how a mere soldier would be able to obtain and indulge in such regal pleasures. Realizing that it is indeed his own room, still being the dreamy eyed individual Avaren is, he lazily raised his hand to the left side of the bed to secure his bow. Gripping the mane of the bow, he lets out a smile of satisfaction and merely slumps back into the comfort of his own bed. Deciding that the day is not worth waking up to, while muttering to himself jovially. "Mmmm... its a jolly good day alright, never should it be wasted in slumber... heheheh.."

Avaren has always been known by his fellow comrades as... "Lazy, unmotivated, and dreamy." Notorious for walking the Halls of the Valiant dreamily, yawning and slouching in his passage through the halls. Bypassing his commanding officers without a formal salute and rather... as the soldiers prefer to call it "Sleepwalking" regardless of Avaren's claims of being awake.

Deep inside the hallways of the valiant. A side wing from the army barracks that housed troops from the infantry division. An eventful day has passed, from the queen's actions, to a regular battle simulation programme, all while Avaren blissfully remain in rest.

Some suggestions...

Here is my responce to the person I am RPing with over the PMs, Keep in mind that she has not introduced her characters name, nor does she use third writing.

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"It is a little late for a lady to be out on her own..." Hyperion said as he passed into the young girl's field of vision near the rocks, his pale skin seeming to glow in the moonlight. The man stood about 5'9" with crimson eyes that seemed to swirl with darker hues of red. His silver hair was tied, as if in after thought, behind his head with a bit of string; the long strands still reaching just below his broad shoulders. The jacket and shirt he had on clashed with the black tie that hung lose around his neck, not confined by any collar. His dark pants and shoes he wore as well where not any thing special, but seemed well worn.
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As for how I speak, it is the same as how I write. I am somewhat blessed to go to a magnet school where people speak and write in mostly the same way.

It is indeed a vampire; I guess I will have to work on clarification.