Writing 101: Writing Is Not So Natural for Humans

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HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED why, most of the time, it is easier for us to speak than to write? Have you ever questioned why, most of the time, we spend our time staring blankly at our computer screen, having no idea what to type even when we have been given topics to elaborate? 

Elaborating a topic, arranging ideas, constructing words and paragraphs are easier to be said than to be done. Writing is hard not only because it requires more focus and patience, but also because writing is not so natural for humans—we need lots of practices to be fluent.  

Writing is not an innate ability which humans got the moment they were born. Humans' early childhood development in communication starts from speaking—an infant is more likely to develop the skill to speak first than to write. In their early years of development, humans only then are taught to write comprehensively—as a form of communication—when they enter the world of primary school. 

Writing needs to be directly taught. The state of the brain of early childhood development suggests that although toddlers develop the potential skill to write as early as the age of three years old, its focus is to familiarize them with their motoric senses and simple languages. Writing and arranging complex ideas only later are taught in school, gained through deliberate practices and countless of trial-and-errors, not to mention proper teachings.

Moreover, from evolutionary perspective, humans developed the ability to spread information through writing much more later. While speech has been evolving for over millions of years, the emergence and development of writing in human's civilizations has happened only for thousands of years—it emerged approximately over 5000 years ago. 

Arranging ideas and elaborating a topic is not an easy work to be done for some people. Although some others might be having natural talent in constructing words and paragraphs, lots of practices and trial-and-errors still play a huge role and are needed to build the fluency in writing.

© dailydoseofkafein | Published on April 20th 2023


References:

Brusie, Chaunie. How to Teach Your Toddler to Write. 2019. (Online). Available at: Teaching Children to Write Begins as Early as Age Three (verywellfamily.com) (20 April 2023).

Hodgson, Derek. How did reading and writing evolve? Neuroscience gives a clue. 2019. (Online). Available at: How did reading and writing evolve? Neuroscience gives a clue (theconversation.com) (20 April 2023).

Moats, Louisa. Carol, Tolman. Speaking Is Natural; Reading and Writing Are Not. 2009. (Online). Available at: Speaking Is Natural; Reading and Writing Are Not | Reading Rockets (20 April 2023).


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