These words all describe producing language using the voice, rather than writing. 以上各词均指口头的、口语的。

• spoken (of language) produced using the voice; said rather than written 指口语的、口头的：◆an exam in spoken English 英语口语考试
• oral [usually before noun] spoken rather than written 指口头的、口述的：◆There will be a test of both oral and written French. 将有一次法语口试和笔试。

spoken or oral? 用 spoken 还是 oral？

Both of these words can be used to refer to language skills and the communication of information. 上述两词均可用于语言技巧和信息交流：◆spoken/oral French 法语口语◆a spoken/oral presentation 口头报告In these cases oral is slightly more technical than spoken. Oral but not spoken can also be used with words such as tradition, culture and legends to talk about the way in which people pass stories down from one generation to the next, and in legal contexts followed by words such as evidence and hearing. 在上述例子中，oral 较 spoken 专业一些，oral 亦可与 tradition、culture 和 legends 等词连用，指故事代代相传的方式；spoken 则不能这样用。在法律语境中，oral 后可接 evidence 和 hearing 等词，spoken 则不能。

• vocal [usually before noun] connected with the voice 指嗓音的、发音的：◆vocal music 声乐◆the vocal organs(= the tongue, lips, etc.) 发声器官 NOTE Vocal is used to talk about the ability to produce sounds using the voice, and is often used in musical contexts when referring to singing. * vocal 关乎发音的能力，常用于音乐语境中，指歌唱。

Patterns

• spoken/oral French/English/Japanese, etc.
• spoken/oral language skills