— American Academy of Arts and Sciences
LEARNING to write in a foreign language is often a complex cognitive process. So, writing is a much slower process. It lets us organise our thoughts better before shaping our sentences. However, cognitive psychology suggests that we are happiest when we write easily using rote activities or patterns. On the other hand, creating a flow of writing is not only distressing but also draining. For some, individual traits coalesce with context to create a perfect storm of distraction. It is often said that the harder the writer works, the easier it becomes for the reader. Discourse and writing may seem very different, but in fact, they are very similar. Writing is more than a process of translating the sounds in our heads into black scratches on a piece of paper.
During Francis Bacon’s time, writing was a rigorous process done mostly in Latin. Throughout the 16th century, English writing was developing and becoming more popular. So, since then, the mental process of writing has been as rigorous as it is today, despite technical support such as artificial intelligence tools! Long ago, Francis Bacon aptly uttered, ‘Writing makes a man exact,’ which still makes sense for a variety of reasons. Firstly, in a sense, writing serves as a tool for self-reflection and personal growth. Again, engagement in writing encourages individuals to think critically, clarify their ideas, and communicate more effectively. In today’s information-driven world, the ability to express oneself clearly is crucial, whether in academic, professional, or personal contexts.
As far as today’s reality is concerned, the internet has connected people worldwide, transcending geographical boundaries. In this regard, writing allows for effective communication across languages and cultures, facilitating international collaboration, knowledge sharing, and cultural exchange. The rise of digital platforms, including blogs, social media, and online forums, has democratised publishing. People can easily share their thoughts and ideas with a wide audience. Bacon’s assertion about writing’s precision remains pertinent as individuals strive to make their digital communication impactful and meaningful. In summary, Francis Bacon’s statement underscores the enduring significance of writing in fostering clarity, critical thinking, effective communication, and personal growth. In today’s fast-paced and information-driven world, the ability to write with precision and coherence remains an invaluable skill for people in most professions, regardless of industry, business, or academia.
Nowadays, there is a persistent hypothesis due to the advancement of artificial intelligence. Many of us think that it is imminent that AI will take over the task of writing. I differ with the thought! Even the dominant psycholinguist Steven Pinker claims in The Sense of Style that there’s no algorithm to write a sentence. Actually, what ChatGPT like powerful AI can do is bring all the existing writing resources available online in the blink of an eye in front of us. The writings that AI tools suggest or paraphrase for us are actually written by us on various occasions for our various needs. Therefore, what ChatGPT regurgitates is not writing per se. It’s just a tantalising transcription.
So, referring back to Bacon, writing is inherently a human attribute. Machines can’t write, and neither can ChatGPT (generative pre-trained transformers). A piece of writing is not only a syntactic structure. It is indeed a semantic sculpture. So, writing is the generation of thoughts — filtered through vision, imagination, and intuition — that touch and transform.
In terms of English language education, writing tends to fall mainly into two poles: academic writing and non-academic writing. These are two distinct modes of communication that serve different purposes and cater to varying audiences. Academic writing is characterised by its formal and structured style, where precision, objectivity, and the incorporation of scholarly research are paramount. It often follows a specific format, such as essays, research papers, and dissertations, and relies on citations to support arguments and ideas. Non-academic writing, on the other hand, encompasses a broader range of styles and formats, including creative writing, journalistic pieces, personal essays, and more. It tends to be more flexible in its tone and structure, allowing for creative expression and a closer connection to the reader. While academic writing prioritises the advancement of knowledge within a particular field, non-academic writing aims to engage, entertain, or inform a broader audience through storytelling, persuasion, or commentary.
In Bangladesh, writing in English seems a complex issue for Bangladeshi language learners. Most of the learners prefer the ‘product of writing’ using rote activities or patterns, as I mentioned earlier. They are rarely familiar with the ‘process of writing’, which could make them proficient writers in the English language. They often do not realise that proficiency in writing is associated with overall proficiency in a language. Teachers of the English language should also realise that they need to teach the ‘process of writing’ in classrooms. It is because writing is not picked up by a process of osmosis but needs to be taught coherently and cohesively.
So, if anyone really wants to be fluent in a language or try to learn it, they should aim to speak, listen, read, and write in it. It is because applied linguists such as Muriel Saville-Troike suggest that the process of language learning begins with listening and ends with the acquisition of writing. When it comes to writing proficiency, linguistic competence comprises essential knowledge encompassing vocabulary, grammar and mechanical aspects.
A writer must possess an understanding of word meanings and their contextual usage, as well as proficiency in grammar, punctuation rules, and spelling. These competencies enable the creation of coherent and comprehensible texts. So, one needs to build the capacity for writing skills beyond the basics. By improving writing skills, one can easily seize the opportunity to stand out from the crowd in the era of artificial intelligence.
Dr SM Akramul Kabir is a researcher on language education policy and curriculum planning.
