The World of Oral Tradition to Language Literacy

Denise Garner
DTC 375: Language, Text, & Technology
Dr. Jason Farman
Thursday 19, 2009
Word Count: 762

The World of Oral Tradition to Language Literacy

I found it soon to become critically apparent that the very interest in orality, and literacy or illiterate culture is that these terminologies were not only provoked in this century, but something that already existed as far back as 3300 B.C. and even further, the Ice ages. I found interesting to know is that it was of “interest in this new form of municational competency that provoked Marshall McLuhan” an author and others to look at earlier transitional moments in the world today.(website) Come to think about, you always hear about literacy, illiterate, but do not talk much about the word orality. (Orality is defined as speech or spoken word. Human communication begins with orality. For instance, “the world of primary cultures is rich in metaphor, nonlinear creative thought, and memory of the world.” (45) Orality is a form of Homogeneity. Literacy is defined as the ability to read or write; a person's knowledge of a particular subject or field. Therefore, “readers should not assume that literate is superior to oral in terms of measure of intelligence. The difference is cultural not hierarchical.” (44) Another example is, without writing, words, as such, have no visual meaning, even when the objects they represent are visual. Moreover, “there were limits to literacy by the character of materials and methods employed by the written word.” (58) During a class lecture in the “Summary of McLuhan,” historic man is associated with writing and individual medium. McLuhan argues that this is changing with the event of cinema. He also argues that writing controls space, and mentions that we shy away from the medium. Illiteracy is defined as the inability to read or write. Illiteracy is a social problem not an individual problem. “ Fact: 1 in 5 American adults (20%) is functionally illiterate. A 1982 study indicated that about 13% of American adults 20 and over (17 to 21 million people) do not read at all belowthe 4th grade level, and 75% of unemployed adults have reading or writing difficulties. Around 13% of all 17 year olds are functionally illiterate. In 1986-87 the federal government spent $17 per illiterate adult to aid adult literacy efforts. Everybody pays for the problem of illiteracy.”) (website) Between orality, literacy, and how illiteracy affects our cultural processes is apparent to me because there is a lack of social communication within the media, the workplace, and the community.

Through the media we are often misinformed. We are often misinformed as a result of hearing information and not being able to follow up on it and verify it, because of lacking reading skills. For instance, through the media, people who are illiterate often rely on getting information from pictures on billboards, leaflets, and business posters.

While in the workplace, communication is relevant. If there is no means of social communication between yourself and co-workers in the work place, then there will be lack of production or frustration. As an example, you are a head custodian, you come to work in the morning. While doing your rounds of the building, you discover that several rooms didn't get cleaned. You wonder why this happened? The result is because your night guy did not leave you a note do to that he doesn't know how to write. It was suggested that a tape recorder be used to communicate, but who will buy it? Taxpayers, every body pays.

Meanwhile, the community has signs up that there is a crime watch in your area. You have to be able to read to know that. Other examples of social problems in the community is that all houses have addresses. Yes, you can go by visual as how to get there. But if it is on paper, or you have to write it down on an application, and you do not know how to read or write, then it becomes an illiterate problem.
Therefore, it is essential in life to have the skills of orality and literacy, and not to grow up being illiterate in the face of the media, at your workplace, and around your community.

Work Cited
“ From Orality To Teleliteracy.” Orality Resource Site. Steven Mizrach.
<http://www.fiu.edu/mizrachs/orality.htm>
Crowley,David, and H eyer Paul. Communication In History. Technology,Culture,
Society. New York: fifth edition, 2007, 2003 Pearson Education Inc.
“ Facts About Illiteracy.” Think Quest Link Site.
<http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112734/page5htm>