The Purpose and Function of Writing - Essay Example

 What is the purpose and function of writing? What is the purpose and function of writing? Introduction Writing is a method/a way of communication where concept and ideas are passed to other people. Writing employs language signs and inscription to pass the intended message to the readers/audience. Some writers such as Samuel Johnson asserted that no man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money means that he dint like writing. His statement meant that writing was a less important. He viewed it as a way of benefiting members of the public rather than an individual. Johnson liked passing ideas via speaking rather writing. Further, Johnson statement indicates that he viewed many writers who wrote books and stories did it for the purpose of making money but not passing information. Therefore, this study aims to investigate “what is the purpose and functions of writing”. What is the purpose and function of writing? It can be observed that the purpose of writing is numerous as discussed. For instance some people write out of passion, others write to make money through sale of books, magazines article to mention just but a few. Moreover, the purpose of writing may be to inform, educate and to pass the ideas to the future generation. The conversation on Twitter verse indicates how social media platforms such as twitter and face book has helped to pass ones feeling and thoughts to others within a shortest time possible. The conversation also indicates how twitter has eroded the culture and a spirit of writing because most of the people use twitter as the most efficient and effective way of communicating their feelings and ideas as compared to writing books. This has in turn erodes the culture and spirit of writing. Based on this Twitter verse Aristotle may say that writing is the most powerful tool of informing/ passing ideas and theories as well as making other people understand a particular concept. Further, he may say that writing should be embraced because its communication purposes cannot be replaced by any other communication tool. Based on the conversation sent twitter verse Aristotle may say that people twit’s for two major reasons namely; to attack or to defend their views/opinions (Eltahawy, 2011). On the other hand, there are various functions of writing which may divided into five major areas. The first one is memory support function. Writing helps to support memory by providing a reference point to reflect and remember what happened in the past. Secondly, writing plays distancing/expansion function. This means writing helps to separate the three components of communication namely; message/text, reader and the writer. A writer can access written text at different place/location from the writer. Thirdly, writing plays a reifying role/function; this involves converting the text into stable and tangible thing. However, this function has faced limitation especially when writing electronically since electronic text tends not to be stable. Fourthly, writing plays social function. This means that writing provide cultural norms that regulate people conduct in a society. For example, it includes written laws, community registration and contracts. Lastly but not list, writing plays an interactive function by providing a platform where coordination takes place. For example, use of letters, twitter, faces book and other social media platforms. This is because Twitter provides a person with not only an opportunity to twit but also with an opportunity of being informed within the shortest time possible. Further, Aristotle may respond to often-offensive ratings that unfold on 4chan in a unique way. For instance, he may use his moral reasoning and knowledge to post an argument that opposes any thing that is not based on moral virtues and uses his concrete scientific theory to substantiate his assertions (Lahiri, 2011). The question as to who writes varies with individuals and has also changed with time. Writers are the creative and the courageous persons. Courageous in a way that they are not afraid to air their views to the public and do not shy off from criticisms. Those with pride of the community they come from or people they live with are also writers. An evident situation is by Lahiri the author, writing about his culture what they ate and also her relationship with her grandmother. The passion for writing also plays a major role in this field (Lahiri, 2011). If you have the passion you always want to write. Writers are those with high concentration on various topics and who can endure long hours of sitting. An example of this is Lahiri who always sat under trees writing and preferred rainy days so that she could lock herself in the house and do the writing without interference. Different people read the works of writers with their different and diverse intensions. At an early age, readers get into reading as they are put in the situation by either tutors or parents. This is evident with Lahiri’s story of his parents buying books for his study. Also curiosity makes individuals want to read the works of writers which is mostly driven by the title of the books. The urge for knowledge and discover what individuals feel they do not know motivates them to read. Readers can also those individuals who feel they are lonely and need companionship hence engage in reading. Due to the availability of reading materials, individuals develop a reading culture (Lahiri, 2011). There are various reasons as to why different writers choose to write. To some writers, it is a way of expression of their feelings and way of living. There are also writers who write expressing the way they think of the community as well as bringing to light the hidden issues in the society. Writing can motivated by situations or circumstance. First writing was motivated by owning a book purchased by her mother and for appreciation and commemoration, he wrote his name and the word mother. Individuals who are not confident enough speaking in public express their views in writing. The act of writing can also be drawn from inspiration or motivation from other writers as Lahiri was motivated to write by a writer by the name of Bill (Lahiri, 2011). Variety of reasons exists as to why people read. Individuals will always engage in reading and develop a reading culture if the reading gives them self satisfaction. Self satisfaction means the reader gets comfort from the reading like for the New Yorker author, she felt comfortable and interacted with the American writers through reading their books. The culture of reading can also be developed from the people surrounding you. According to her life she was surrounded by parents who were readers and bought reading materials which encouraged her to read more and more. The need to acquire more knowledge and learn other peoples culture also makes people read. Various reasons motivate both writer and the reader to engage in their different activities of writing and reading. To both, what is at stake is connection and interaction with different people at different levels. Writers connect with readers through buying of their books. Readers on the other hand connect with writers through reading of their materials. Both parties gain in different ways where the writers gain loyalty and appreciation. They get appreciation by people reading their materials and either reply to them or comment on the way they feel about the article or book. They also gain satisfaction after letting out what they feel for the community and various topics they speak about. The readers gain knowledge from their diverse reading. They also gain companionship from the unseen writer through interaction with the different stories. Through this platform, both the writer and reader can interact freely with each other (Lahiri, 2011). Conclusion Conclusively, writing plays a major purpose and functions in the society as discussed. Of importance is to educate the community on different topics at different platforms. Secondly is to guide and cancel the society of emerging issues and way of living. Writing as an art also acts as a watch dog to the community. Through interaction, with the readers, writing unites the people by sharing the same views. It also acts as a way of entertainment through the social media and a companion (Eltahawy, 2011). References Eltahawy.M. (2011).Twitterholics Anonymou. Lahiri.J. (2011).Trading Stories. New Yorker. Retrieved :< http://www.newyorker.com/magazine /2011/06/13/trading-stories>. Read More