Spoken and written language: Some differences

Here is an extract from a discussion between two people talking about their fear of heights. It contains several features which are common in spoken English, but unusual or non-existent in written English.

1. CB: I don't particularly like heights. Erm. Heights, er, at the top of a mountain, or a hill, where it's possible to fall. Erm, the top of something like a lighthouse or something I don't mind, because there's a barrier around you. But heights where you think you may be able to fall.

2. BB: Yeah. I was okay until I had a rather nasty experience about er, height. Until then I was okay. I could go anywhere. But er, I was er, on a lighthouse actually. We were being taken round it. We went up all the stairs and to the light, er, room. And then the chap says ‘Oh, come on. Right, we'll go out here.’ I went through the door. And I was on this very very narrow little parapet ….

3. CB: Yeah.

4. BB: … with a rail about – perhaps eighteen inches high ….

5. CB: Mm.

6. BB: … and then a sheer drop of about a hundred feet or something. I was absolutely petrified. I've never been as scared like that before or since.

7. CB: That's very frightening.

8. […]