What is the difference between colloquial an oral in the phrases, colloquial English and oral English?
asked Apr 14, 2011 at 23:10
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1I like this question because the English language doesn't employ as strong a distinction between its oral and written forms as some other languages, like French (with written tenses and moods that simply don't exist orally, such as l'imparfait du subjonctif leconjugueur.com/frimparfaitsubjonctif.php). I believe (merely anecdotally) that this may have encouraged blurring the line somewhat between oral and colloquial/informal.– msanfordCommented Apr 15, 2011 at 0:02
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2Uh, colloquial sex is not nearly as much fun?– Michael LortonCommented Apr 15, 2011 at 2:02
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3 Answers
Alternatively, for the linguists out there: oral refers communication medium whereas colloquial refers to register.
Considered this way, the concepts are not mutually exclusive: would you consider a speech (i.e., oral communication) given by Queen Elizabeth II colloquial? Surely not! Given by President Barack Obama? Quite possibly…
For another example: colloquial is in opposition to formal (among others), whereas oral is in opposition to written, signed, etc.
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7In other words, a speech by President Obama is more likely to include colloquial English than a speech by Queen Elizabeth II, but both are equally oral English.– MarthaªCommented Apr 14, 2011 at 23:49
"oral English" is any spoken English. "colloquial English" is informal, and may include language that might be unacceptable for printing.
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+1 Furthermore, informal oral often employs colloquial language.– msanfordCommented Apr 14, 2011 at 23:42
Colloquial comes from the word conversation, specifically, according to the OED
1. Of or pertaining to colloquy; conversational.
Perhaps a better way to phrase your question is - What is the difference between oral and conversational English.
Conversational English is typically oral, but oral English is not necessarily conversational.
