Orality and Literacy: Theorems

Technology will lead to a new and higher level of literacy

There is new technology being discovered every day. This technology is increasing our ability to learn and will give us the ability to further expand our knowledge. Technology is allowing us to document history every single day. Our access to information is getting easier and easier as each year passes. This is going to continue to grow with future generations and higher levels of technology. People will be able to find everything they need to know faster and more efficiently and hopefully with this, there will be personal desire to increase literacy. Ong says, “Language and thought for the ancient Greeks grew out of memory….we cannot do away with texts, which shape our thought processes (166).” This quote is important because it emphasizes the importance of text and this technology gives us the power to create this text. We can write every event that happens and make it public so that the entire world can see it. Nothing will be forgotten in the future and people will be able to learn about every event – big and small.

Technology and social media is helping to expanding our orality and literacy

There are endless forms of communication in this day and age that allow us to connect with one another. Whether it’s emails, text messages, or snapchats, there is always a way to reach someone. This is helping maintain orality in ways that that the past generations did not get to experience. It’s a way to ensure that orality will live on. People are able to communicate while they are not together and without actually speaking to one another. I experience this on a daily basis; I am constantly communicating with my friends and family through my phone and my computer. This in turn allows me to keep expand my own orality. Ong said, “Both orality and the growth of literacy out of orality are necessary for the evolution of consciousness…The shift from orality to writing intimately interrelates with more psychic and social developments than we have yet noted (172).” These shifts affect our everyday lives but in positive ways. Like I said earlier, we can use this shift to expand our knowledge and keep track of history.


Orality and Literacy are going to continue to change – some may believe it’s for the better and some may argue for the worse

Let’s face it..Orality and Literacy are two concepts that are ever changing. They are never going to be quite the same as they were historically. With new generations, new minds, and new creativity, we are constantly coming up with new forms of orality and literacy. Even certain phrases come and go with different generations. I think Ong would agree with this theory. It can be argued both ways depending on who you ask and I don’t think that will ever change. Ong argues that “Willingness to live with the ‘media’ model of communication shows chirographic conditioning (173).” This is true, however, the coming generations are indeed conditioned to live with this. It is the new normal.

Orality and literacy are two complex concepts. They do in fact change as the years pass. Those who do not believe in the media model of communication look at the current generations with bitterness and distaste. However, some embrace the change and love where the future is headed. I think we need to find balance. We need to move forward but while holding on and maintaing the traditions of the past. Ong concludes the book by saying, “Orality-literacy dynamics enter integrally into the modern evolution of consciousness toward both greater interiorization and greater openness (176).” This quote ties my theorems and the book together perfectly. We need to remain open to change.