Reading: Speaking, Writing, and Literacy
Containing information did not always start at writing, it evolved from orality which Walter Ong, a person referenced in the article, mentions is to characterize speech. The text heavily leans on the fact that oral and sound is the base of everything. A part of the text I found fascinating was the examples used of how stories and poems where shared a long time ago before paper and ink; verbal communication. There were a few different examples in the text, from various Indigenous groups to Ancient Greek. But the similarities were the skills developed and used to share these stories. By repetition, memorization, and closely listening to cues and coming up with patters to help remember.
Memorization
I think a cool memorization tool mentioned in the article is the “ABC” song. It was taught to almost all people at a young age, the rhyme helping young children learn which letter goes first and what follows next based on the beat. Even now, I occasionally have to say the “ABC” song to myself when trying to remember which letter goes before the other.
Downside
I noticed that in the mention of Ancient Greek in the article, Plato comes up (page 4). Plato wrote their concerns with writing starting to become a thing, the skill of memorization could risk slipping and falling into a lost skill. Which is understandable since written information can be looked back on and edited or changed. Verbal changes in a verbal story might not be as easy as simply crossing out a word on paper. Once something is said, it is said. Other changes can come after a verbal response, but it’s original response will always be remembered. Or most of the time. At least with a written response, the original paper could be ripped, burned, or tossed away with its contents.
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