Oral tradition, also called orality, is the first and still most widespread mode of human communication. Far more than “just talking,” oral tradition refers to a dynamic and highly diverse oral-aural medium for evolving, storing, and transmitting knowledge, art, and ideas. (Britannica, 2022) It is hard to imagine a world where writing and reading are not a thing. I am interested in examining the history of communication and language by investigating the orality era in Walter Ong’s book, Orality and Literacy. I believe that any form of communication is a powerful skill our Creator has granted us. Orality in its earliest forms, with the power of sounds and memory, is a subject worthy of study.
The first period, known as the oral tradition, covers the period from when humans first learned to speak until the beginnings of literacy around 5,000 years ago. Ong described this period of pure oral traditions as orality (2002). This tradition is one of the lasting in human history, and it can be seen today as, among numerous existing languages, only a handful have writing and literal representations (Sterne, 2011). Innumerable languages have perished during the course of human history. However, the principality of orality still passes on even now and remains an invaluable part of human culture and history.
Orality led to the emergence of common textual representations of words or written literacy; it is an extension of oral traditions. All written texts must somehow, either directly or indirectly, link to the world of sound, which serves as language’s native environment, in order to convey their intended meaning. Reading a text involves rendering it into sound, either verbally or mentally. Oral communication cannot be replaced by writing. Writing has never existed without orality, but verbal expression may and frequently has. Writing from the start did not diminish spoken communication but instead strengthened it. The components of oratory might now be categorized as scientific art. This art is a body of explanation that is progressively organized and demonstrates how and why oratory is accomplished and might be created to achieve its many distinct impacts. In other words, grammar and literally traditions are the embodiment of oral diversity that was able to progress into the documented state.
Therefore, Ong makes a distinction between orality and secondary orality. A culture is untouched by any knowledge of writing or print, which is the primary orality (Ong, 2002). The secondary orality refers to oral traditions that became permanent with the introduction of technology, such as video and audio recorders (Ong, 2002). Secondary orality emerged in pursuit of the preservation of oral tradition. They improved the availability of data and allowed to storage abysmal amount of records that can be shared and spread quickly (Oral history, 2022). Today primary oral culture in the strict sense hardly exists since every culture knows of writing and has some experience of its effects. Still, to varying degrees, many cultures and subcultures, even in a high-technology ambiance, preserve much of the mindset of primary orality (Sterne, 2011). Therefore, genuine oral traditions remain relevant for research in linguistic history.
Ong is convinced of the perception of sounded words as power and action. According to Ong (2002), oral cultures cannot comprehend complex concepts like geometry, classification, logical reasoning, and definitions. He contends that in order to engage in the kinds of cognitive processes, reading and writing texts are necessary (Ong, 2002). Ong emphasizes the importance of memory in oral cultures. The absence of visual aids like text forces verbal thinking to take place in the form of patterns and mnemonic words in oral cultures (Ong, 2002). Systematic repetition and language embellishments are utilized to make sure that knowledge is transmitted to the following generation. The benefits of the era include the emergence of rhetoric from constant verbalizations and engagement in oral debates that developed all modern theories of thought. Nevertheless, the limitations of the era were severe, as verbal memorization was the primary way to withhold any information. Therefore, in a way the orality was an exclusive society where one’s capability to retain information determined the level of intellectual ability in contrast to the modern appreciation of critical thinking.
According to Ong’s (2002) Great Divide Theory, oral and literate cultures process information in different ways. It implies a profound psychological divide between the worldviews of the uneducated and the learned. However, both verbal and written cultures can learn, and their methods of learning are comparable since they are founded on the same learning theories (Ong, 2002). Ong’s modes of language and cognition are consistent with constructivism and cognitivism. Thus, the understanding of orality led to the emergence of new linguistic theories.
Oral societies, in contrast to literate societies, can be described as homeostatic. The oral mind only uses the higher modes of understanding and is disinterested in definitions. Words can only derive their meaning from their persistently present physical environment (Ong, 2002). Meanings are derived from every aspect of the vocal reproductions of terms. The homeostatic nature of the orality allows to appreciate the evolutional process to written speech. It was an essential step that allowed transgression from rhetoric to current scientific subjects of math, physics, chemistry and much more.
The orality should inspire current Christian communicators to take on a mission of memorizing sacred texts. In Genesis 1:26 it is written, “let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” This indirectly implies that any form of communication could be considered a gift from God as it was made possible because humans were made to resemble the creator. God has given humans the ability to communicate and this should have the inspirational value for those that follow his will. The role of the Christian worldview allows us to appreciate and contemplate the role of communication in human lives. Consequently, the importance of orality becomes more transparent with this approach.
In conclusion, orality is one of the most important eras of human communication. Although a significant portion of the primary traditions was long forgotten, the current predicament does not diminish its importance. The study of orality may help to inspire Christian communicators and young minds to explore the depth behind the sacred text. The tradition conveys numerous fascinating points and the ability of carriers that were able to preserve significant portions of practices to this day through verbal memorization. Although the nature of orality is homeostatic, it carries a considerable way and research relevance to this day.
Bibliography
Sterne, J. (2011). The theology of sound: A critique of orality. Canadian Journal of Communication. Web.
Ong, W. (2002). Orality and literacy. Routledge.
Oral history. (2022). Science Direct. Web.
Oral tradition. (2022). Britannica. Web.