In many ways, an email message is half way between an oral and a
written message in terms of formalism and way of writing. If we think
about formalism, we may acknowledge that oral communication is least
formal. In oral communication, we may have interjections, specific
expressions, colloquial expressions and other elements that would never
find their place in a written message (unless we are referring to a novel
or a literary work. In this case, we may expect to discover certain oral
expressions in writing, but they are only used as a poetical license and do
not make the subject of our discussion). On the other hand, a written form
of communication often has certain norms that we have to respect:
introductory formulas (like dear sir), specific ending formulas and a
In this sense, an email message seems to be halfway between the two
types of communication. In a way, an email message has borrowed some of
the elements of oral communication. An email message may at times be very
short, expressing only one or two ideas, similar to an oral message. You
will never expect a letter to be one line long (you may as well phone the
respective person), but you may have an email message this long, because it
is just the same whether you phone the person or send an email: the message
will be delivered just as swiftly in both cases.
On the other hand, you might have email messages very similar to a
letter and having all the elements that characterize a letter, including
opening and ending formulas. If you want to avoid mail tardiness, but want
to deliver a formal message, you may do so through the email. The days
when emails were considered an informal mean of communication are long
gone: you can now write an entirely formal response through an email, just
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