Orality and Literacy

The way we communicate evolves through time. The distinction between oral
cultures and cultures influenced by writing is crucial for understanding how
communication and thought processes have evolved over time.

Walter J. Ong – Jesuit American Priest, literature professor, cultural and religious
historian

 According to him, the way we communicate (verbal or writing) changes the way
we think and behave.
 The mind is determined by the medium

(The medium of communication plays a significant role in shaping thought, perception,

cultural evolution, and social dynamics. Different mediums, such as oral speech, written
text, or electronic media, influence how information is processed and understood. They
impact cognitive processes like memory and comprehension, with oral storytelling relying
on auditory cues and repetition, while written text allows for detailed analysis . The
medium acts as a filter for perception, highlighting certain aspects of reality and shaping
how individuals construct meaning. Transitioning between mediums can lead to changes in
cognitive patterns and cultural practices, with writing enabling the preservation of
knowledge and the dissemination of ideas. The choice of medium reflects societal
dynamics and influences how individuals perceive authority and knowledge. Studying the
relationship between the mind and the medium provides insights into how language,
technology, and culture intersect to shape cognition, social interactions, and collective
consciousness.)

 As humans evolve, we changed the way we store and send information

(The evolution of consciousness is intricately linked to the development of language and

communication technologies. As societies progress from oral traditions to written texts
and electronic media, new ways of thinking and interacting with information emerge.
The shift from orality to literacy not only impacts individual cognitive processes but also
influences broader societal structures and institutions. The adoption of writing systems
can lead to changes in governance, education, and religious practices, shaping the cultural
landscape in profound ways.)
Orality

Orality refers to the cultural practices and traditions associated with spoken
communication, storytelling, and verbal interactions within a society.

Orality was the primary mode of communication for early human societies before
the advent of writing systems. It encompassed various forms of spoken language,
including storytelling, songs, chants, proverbs, and rituals.

In oral culture, knowledge is threatened to be forgotten. Once a word has been

spoken, it can only be stored in our mind. This reliance on memory makes information
susceptible to distortion, omission, or forgetting over time, especially as generations
pass and details may be altered in the retelling of stories or traditions.

Knowledge is continually reinforced through constant repetition. Regular retelling

of stories, songs, and rituals during everyday interactions, ceremonies, and special
occasions, ensures that key information is retained and passed on to future generations.
Moreover, by compressing their wisdom, they remembered more of it.

They relied on proverbs, epic poetry, and stylized culture heroes to guide their
decisions. Orality is a dynamic and adaptive way of preserving cultural heritage and
fostering a sense of identity.

Types of Orality:

Primary Orality - refers to cultures that rely solely on spoken language for
communication and transmission of knowledge, with no knowledge or experience of
writing systems.

Secondary Orality - refers to the resurgence or re-emergence of oral-like communication

practices in societies influenced by electronic media technologies, despite being literate
cultures.

Characteristics of Oral Culture:

 Additive rather than Subordinative – use of conjunctions to ensure continuity of

ideas and facial expressions to emphasize meanings.
  Aggregative rather than analytic – use of picturesque language, phrases, idioms,
and clauses to aid the memory.
 Redundant or copious – most important info is repeated to enforce recall
 Close to the human life world – concepts are related to personal experiences
 Agonistically toned – knowledge is also used to engage others in a verbal or
intellectual combat.
 Empathetic

Literacy

Literacy refers to the ability to read and write, enabling individuals to interpret,
create, and communicate through written language

While oral cultures rely on spoken language and memory for transmitting
knowledge and stories, literate cultures have the ability to store information in written
form, enabling complex analysis and dissemination of ideas.

Writing is a controversial technology. For Pluto, writing destroys memory as

people who writes tend to forget things. However, Ong argued that forgetting is a good
thing. As we forget things, writing frees our mind from redundant tasks. Once our
thoughts is written down, it exist forever, and does not need to be repeated.

As a result, writing allows people to learn faster, share information, and

entertain more advanced ideas.

Writing created history and logic. Both science and literature were born out of
the pursuit of rationality, truth, and facts – all of which were made possible by
writing.

(Writing has been instrumental in the creation of history and logic by enabling the
recording, preservation, and dissemination of information and rational thought. In terms
of history, writing allows societies to record events, narratives, and cultural practices,
serving as primary sources for reconstructing the past and establishing chronological
frameworks. Writing also enables the development of historiography, shaping how
societies interpret their history. Regarding logic, writing facilitates structured reasoning,
analytical thinking, and the articulation of philosophical concepts, fostering intellectual
inquiry and the construction of logical frameworks.)
 The alphabet influences the patterns of thought. Since the alphabet favors left
hemisphere activity in the brain, writing exercises an analytical mindset.

Writing is associated with official documents which gives authority to books and
contracts. Through print we can reproduce complex ideas, along with complicated lists
and charts with complete accuracy.

In contrast, speech is difficult to store. It is difficult to spread information

accurately through word of mouth.

Characteristics of Literature Culture:

 Enhances Consciousness – expands our way of seeing things.

 Transforms communication – you can reach a wider audience through written
word.
 Encourages introspection and deeper clearer thinking
 More efficient way to create, store, and share information and knowledge

Mass Media Trends that are Shaping our Culture and Realities
From Ong, we learned that the tools of inscription (pen/paper, movable printers, video
camera) revolutionized storytelling, enabling storytellers to disseminate stories to a
larger audience across vast distances.

Thus, media (tools for communication) play an important role in the permanence and
mobility of culture among individuals, groups, and communities.

Culture is a learned behavior among members of a social group. It is manufactured by

knowledge which is shared and distributed through the use of various communication
tools. Thus, culture cannot exist with the absence of communication.

Culture and language aid us in classifying our experiences. It aids us in understanding

ourselves, others, and our world. Since the inception of media, people have been using
mass media technologies to create and share stories that further shape our culture and
ideology.

Trends in Digital Mass Media

  The rise of User-Generated Content - Anytime regular people create and share
content online
 The Rise of Social movements - Social movements are collective efforts by a
group of people to bring about social or political change. They often start with
grassroots organizing and gain momentum through social media and other forms
of communication. Examples include the #BlackLivesMatter movement advocating
for racial justice.
 Influencer Marketing - This is a type of marketing strategy where brands
collaborate with individuals who have a large and engaged following on social media
platforms to promote their products or services. These individuals, known as
influencers, have the ability to sway the purchasing decisions of their followers.
Examples include beauty influencers promoting makeup products
 Cancel Culture - Cancel culture refers to the practice of withdrawing support for
public figures or companies after they have done or said something considered
objectionable or offensive. This can involve boycotting their work, calling for them
to be fired or deplatformed, or publicly shaming them on social media.

What do these trends mean to us?

 The ethical dimension in the creation of culture is very important.

 The power to disseminate information is brought by the development of modern
communication skills (writing, photographing and editing).
 The power shifts in disseminating information and creating cultures are fueled by
accessibility to communication tools.