Orality and Literacy Presentation by Mindy McAdams Week 3, Tuesday MMC 2265

Walter Ong (1912–2003) Studied and compared societies that do not have a system of writing with societies that do Perceived that the shift from an “oral” consciousness to one that is dominated by writing changes the way humans think

Studied and compared societies that do not have a system of writing with societies that do

Perceived that the shift from an “oral” consciousness to one that is dominated by writing changes the way humans think

Walter Ong (1912–2003) Looked at cultures that coexisted at a certain point in time But also looked at the change over time in one culture (Western, or European) from being oral-based to becoming writing-based

Looked at cultures that coexisted at

a certain point in time

But also looked at the change

over time in one culture

(Western, or European) from

being oral-based to becoming

writing-based

Bias in favor of writing Ong said literacy is “absolutely necessary ” for the development of science, history, philosophy Points to some fundamental differences in the thought processes of the two types of culture (oral vs. literate)

Ong said literacy is “absolutely necessary ” for the development of science, history, philosophy

Points to some fundamental differences in the thought processes of the two types of culture (oral vs. literate)

Spoken vs. written language There have been thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of spoken languages in human history But only about 106 languages have been written “to a degree sufficient to have produced literature” (Ong, p. 7) “Most have never been written at all” Today 3,000 languages are spoken Of those, only 78 have a literature

There have been thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of spoken languages in human history

But only about 106 languages have been written “to a degree sufficient to have produced literature” (Ong, p. 7)

“Most have never been written at all”

Today 3,000 languages are spoken

Of those, only 78 have a literature

Oral cultures Sound > power > words Words have no visual connotation Spoken word is usually thought to have magical power: For example, “I hereby put a curse on you!” Naming is a way to exercise power Memory (memorization) plays a huge role in every oral culture

Sound > power > words

Words have no visual connotation

Spoken word is usually thought to have magical power: For example, “I hereby put a curse on you!”

Naming is a way to exercise power

Memory (memorization) plays a huge role in every oral culture

Is naming a form of power? iPod iTunes iBook iChat podcasts podcasting vPod

iPod

iTunes

iBook

iChat

podcasts

podcasting

vPod

Primary oral cultures Even though memory is so important, the role of history is very changeable The history of a people (or the lineage of a king) can be changed to suit the present situation People in oral cultures live very much in the present (even though they remember their past) Knowledge does not accumulate

Even though memory is so important, the role of history is very changeable

The history of a people (or the lineage of a king) can be changed to suit the present situation

People in oral cultures live very much in the present (even though they remember their past)

Knowledge does not accumulate

Milman Parry (1902–1935) Professor at Harvard University Went to Yugoslavia in 1933 and 1934 to explore “folk poems” that were still being sung there Many of the singers were illiterate Parry used an old-style recording machine (double-sided aluminum disks) to record the storytellers

Professor at Harvard University

Went to Yugoslavia in 1933 and 1934 to explore “folk poems” that were still being sung there

Many of the singers were illiterate

Parry used an old-style recording machine (double-sided aluminum disks) to record the storytellers

Milman Parry (1902–1935) He found two poems of about the same length as Homer’s Odyssey One about 13,000 lines Another one: About 12,000 lines (about 250 single-spaced pages) Also many shorter poems, several thousand lines each Yugoslavian folksinger

He found two poems of about the same length as Homer’s Odyssey

One about 13,000 lines

Another one: About 12,000 lines (about 250 single-spaced pages)

Also many shorter poems, several thousand lines each

Milman Parry (1902–1935) Parry’s recordings of these songs (poems): The longest one took more than 12 hours (not including breaks for the singer) Albanian folksinger in Turkey

Parry’s recordings of these songs (poems): The longest one took more than 12 hours (not including breaks for the singer)

Parry’s recordings Some of the poems were recorded from the same singer more than once Usually with some time in between, e.g. a few days or a few weeks Both the differences and the identical parts taught scholars a lot Which parts tended to stay the same ? Which parts tended to change ? To what degree did the poems change?

Some of the poems were recorded from the same singer more than once

Usually with some time in between, e.g. a few days or a few weeks

Both the differences and the identical parts taught scholars a lot

Which parts tended to stay the same ?

Which parts tended to change ?

To what degree did the poems change?

Some possible conclusions A emphasis on memorization (and a life lived in the present moment ) develops some particular ways of thinking Without an emphasis on memorization, there is more chance for emphasis on abstract reasoning and problem solving

A emphasis on memorization (and a life lived in the present moment ) develops some particular ways of thinking

Without an emphasis on memorization, there is more chance for emphasis on abstract reasoning and problem solving

More possible conclusions If you hear the same thing repeated again and again, what happens? If there is no reliable written record, how can you check the facts? How do we know what is true about the past? How does a person in a totally oral culture know what is true?

If you hear the same thing repeated again and again, what happens?

If there is no reliable written record, how can you check the facts?

How do we know what is true about the past?

How does a person in a totally oral culture know what is true?

“Secondary orality” Ong noted the emergence in Western society of what he calls a secondary orality (contrast with “primary orality”) Secondary orality is dominated by electronic modes of communication such as television, telephones, music lyrics Incorporates elements from both the chirographic ( writing ) mode of thought and the orality mode

Ong noted the emergence in Western society of what he calls a secondary orality (contrast with “primary orality”)

Secondary orality is dominated by electronic modes of communication such as television, telephones, music lyrics

Incorporates elements from both the chirographic ( writing ) mode of thought and the orality mode

“Secondary orality” (2) Cannot be the same as primary orality, because a writing culture cannot shed the chirographic ways of thinking An important similarity: Both evoke a strong sense of being a group ; the spoken word merges us into being an audience (but larger now: the “global village”)

Cannot be the same as primary orality, because a writing culture cannot shed the chirographic ways of thinking

An important similarity: Both evoke a strong sense of being a group ; the spoken word merges us into being an audience (but larger now: the “global village”)

Orality and Literacy Presentation by Mindy McAdams University of Florida MMC 2265