* Real-time constraints: Speaking requires immediate production of language. There's no time to edit or revise as you go. Writing allows for reflection, planning, and revision.
* Multitasking: Speaking often involves multiple simultaneous tasks. You're not just formulating words, you're also monitoring the listener's comprehension, adjusting your delivery based on their reactions, and managing your body language. Writing focuses primarily on the linguistic aspect.
* Auditory feedback and correction: While writing allows for visual review and correction, speech relies heavily on auditory feedback which can be less precise and more prone to errors. It's harder to catch your own mistakes in real-time.
* Immediacy of response: In a conversation, you often need to respond quickly, sometimes before fully formulating your thoughts. Writing offers the luxury of taking your time to craft a response.
* Nuances of spoken language: Spoken language is full of informal expressions, filler words ("um," "uh"), and hesitations that are typically avoided in writing. Mastering the subtleties of spoken language, like intonation and stress, is a complex skill.
* Listener interpretation: Spoken words are influenced by intonation, volume, and pace, which can be difficult to control precisely and may be interpreted differently than intended. Writing aims for clearer and more unambiguous communication.
* Memory limitations: Speaking requires recalling vocabulary and grammatical structures instantly, whereas writing provides a visual aid and the ability to consult resources.
While writing has its own challenges (grammar, style, organization), the immediate, multifaceted nature of speaking makes it a more demanding communicative task for most people.