San Antonio College English Department | Home Page | Chart

Thoughts

Oral

Thoughts are formed to be remembered to preserve group identity.

• Rhythmic
• Balanced patterns
• Repetition
• Antitheses
• Alliterations
• Assonances
• Proverbs patterned for retention and ready recall.

Example

In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. --John McCrae (1872-1918)

 

Literate

Thoughts are linear, analytic and memorable mainly for aesthetic purposes.

Example

See this list of the 70 most beautiful words in English in its interesting web page setting.

 

Exception: Primally-strong emotions trigger a default back to the oral mode.

English Dept. | SAC | Top