In this week’s reading, J. D. Applen introduces us to Walter Ong’s ideas about Orality and Literacy. He talks about how writing and language has transformed Human Consciousness which means that writing affects everything for humans. Orality and literacy are defined for us in the chapter and the differences between them are addressed. Most languages have been derived from written communication which labels writing as a technology. People developing letters, words, and even the alphabet has allowed us to develop such a strong spoken language. Applen addresses both Pros and cons of written and spoken language in the reading.
Written language can exist on its own but spoken language more easily defends itself based on tone, approach, and personality. The positive to this is that if we are writing something down we are able to look back on it. We don’t have to force ourselves to remember everything and can go back and review. The disadvantage is that, depending on how we say things, it might not read the way we want. After reading this section it really emphasized the importance of peer review on our work. Often, when I try to write something, I find that the way I am stating it in my thoughts does not come through in my writing. Having another person go over my work and highlight misunderstandings is something we often take for granted. Yet, it helps us get our point across more thoroughly.
On the opposing side, the positive aspect of speech is that we can communicate exactly what we intend and personalize our words to reach the correct audience. However, we may not always remember everything a person says. Ong also introduces us to Primary and Secondary orality. Primary refers to “the way people spoke, heard, and thought” before the age of literacy. Secondary refers to “speech and listening skills” based on a person’s literate background. These different types of Orality show us how we are each individually a product of our environment. It also shows us how much of a gift it is to be able to read and write.
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