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Subject:Verbal vs Oral From:LaVonna Funkhouser <lffunkhouser -at- HALNET -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 27 May 1994 17:18:00 -0500
A Friday usage indulgence--
In a session at the STC conference, a self-described
wordsmith stood on a soapbox for a couple of minutes about
the distinction of verbal vs oral. She stood by the
definitions that _verbal_ means "by words" and _oral_
means "spoken."
Although I have my own usage soapboxes, this is not one
that had ever been pointed out to me. So, in curiosity,
I looked in my M-W 9th New, which listed one of the definitions
of _verbal_ as "spoken rather than written."
My query:
1. Is the wordsmith right for drawing the distinction and
sticking to it, --or--
2. Are those who acknowledge the other definitions of _verbal_
the ones who are more correct?
Because this is a question of opinion, please don't answer
if you read that someone has already voiced yours. You may
reply to me; I'll collect them on Monday.
LaVonna
lffunkhouser -at- halnet -dot- com
==== Be nice to me. It is my birthday (5/27). ====
