Introduction/Abstract

Over time, civilization and our practices and mechanisms have been going through multiple forms of development and evolution. Speaking, literacy and writing are concepts that derive from a less generalized origin but work hand in hand with each other. As society developed, so has our ability to communicate and implement speaking, writing, and literacy into our everyday lives. Speaking was the only form of communication 2500 years ago amongst people. Over the years, as the world grows and evolves, modifications and multiple variations of verbal communication have been created. Walter Ong categorizes speaking into two categories: Primary and Secondary. Writing is a technology that is used by society to communicate, nonverbally. I describe writing as a technology because it’s a tool we developed from spoken language, which we later applied to different concepts in our world, such as typing, texting, printing, and more. Literacy is being able to comprehend and understand, not just “reading and writing”. To be literate in something is to have literacy in something, including what is all taken into account when stating that you understand or are “literate” in that area.

Speech

Oral communication can date back to approximately 2500 years ago, when all communication was oral and recognizable by sound, as categorized by the word orality by Walter Ong. Speech is a concept that has developed with humans, adding onto already established concepts while creating more. Dialogue, speech, and verbally communicating have shifted along with the meaning of terms and sayings. Ong discusses the struggle society years ago had in effectively remembering or processing verbal information. So knowledge could be obtained, passed down and remembered, information constantly had to be repeated. It’s difficult to refer back to something that was only word of mouth with no physical copy/evidence.

Along with speaking, writing is a concept that has a different and separate origin from where we are with writing today. Writing is a skillset that began to sprout and change under the hands of the Greeks, such as Socrates and Phaedrus. Socrates explains writing in a different light. He compared the nature of writing to painting in that it can portray a picture of life but stay silent when asked. The inability of written words to defend or explain themselves is highlighted. This concept can be applied to the digital sphere, where written words are widely and quickly shared across a variety of platforms. Just as it was in Plato’s day, statements can be misread, misconstrued, or taken out of context after they are written, spreading among people who understand them and those who don’t (Ong, 2012). In the age of social media and online discourse, this vulnerability is amplified, as words can be easily manipulated, leading to misinformation, polarization, and even harm.

Review:

What term is used to describe oral communication?

Literacy

Let’s get physical

In an academic setting, students are usually taught that literacy has to do with “proper” speaking and grammar usage, especially when writing. However, literacy goes beyond basic written and verbal communication.  Literacy in physical forms is the capacity to understand and interact with written material in its real, tangible form, such as books, newspapers, and handwritten documents. Written texts of all forms have impacted the way spoken language has developed, which emphasizes the significance of physical literacy.

Secondary orality describes communication methods such as reading from prepared scripts during radio and television shows that incorporate spoken language with written textual elements (Ong, 2012). To create radio stations, television shows, or any other scripted content that includes writing, one must be physically literate. Through editing and formatting these materials for the best possible presentation and comprehension, literacy allows us to make changes. Physical literacy makes it possible for people to interact with various media in a productive way. We are able to do this by  reading show schedules, paying attention to subtitles, or gaining access to additional textual materials. This principle can be connected to literacy in general and digital literacy in particular.

Let’s get digital

Digital literacy is one’s capacity to understand, evaluate, and create content on a variety of digital media. Digital literacy comprises finding and mixing information from a range of digital sources, including websites, social media, and multimedia content. This is comparable to secondary orality, which is the integration of written knowledge into spoken communication. The influence of written texts on spoken language has noticeably affected how society incorporates the language and style of written material into their own speech patterns. Similarly, in today’s society, digital literacy involves consuming and understanding how to effectively communicate through digital platforms. These platforms could be through an email, crafting a social media post, or even producing multimedia content.

Review question:

What is an example of secondary orality?

Writing

Writing is a skill that was taught to us at a young age. In an academic setting, depending on our grade level, we are assigned tasks in school that require us to possibly respond to a question, write an essay using the provided prompt, or use other mediums of that nature. We learn the basic levels of English grammar, punctuations, formatting, editing and all that is encompassed in literacy. Writing is now defined as a technology used to express our thoughts and ideas onto something outside of our minds. Such as the alphabet. Writing is a tool that makes it possible to transmit complicated ideas, preserve culture, and record historical events. In addition, it fosters critical thinking, introspection, and teamwork while acting as a forum for individual and group discussion in various forms. Writing has become more widely accessible in the current digital era through a variety of platforms and media, which has strengthened its status as a flexible and essential tool for human expression and communication. Douglas Eyman says “It is important to remember that “digital,” however, also has a connection to the material production of texts, whether in print form or electronic”. He also states that historical forms of written communication used “fingers and code” to create them. These texts include, but aren’t limited to, Mesopotamian Cuneiform, Egyptian and Mayan hieroglyphs, Chinese logograms, and the Aztec codices (Eyman, pp. 242-243).

Writing in digital spaces involves using electronic devices and platforms to create and share our ideas and thoughts. Unlike traditional physical writing tools like paper and ink, digital writing occurs within the digital realm. The text is entered, edited, and displayed using computers, smartphones, tablets, and other digital devices. In digital spaces, writing is expressed through keyboards, touchscreens, and digital interfaces. In physical spaces, writing typically involves pen and paper or other tangible materials. Digital writing is instantly accessible once “posted” by the creator. It is quickly shared online with a worldwide audience, breaking beyond the barriers of physical proximity. This allows real-time communication and discussion with different types of people over great distances. Digital spaces offer distinct benefits in terms of accessibility, interactivity, storage, collaboration, and dynamic editing. Having access to such advancements influences how we produce, distribute, and interact with written information in the digital age. Both physical and digital writing are tools for communication and expression; however, using our digital writing mediums allows us to articulate, and expand on our expressed thoughts and ideas.

Review question: 

What do you call the tools we use to express our ideas and thoughts? 

Discussion questions:

• Outside of the classroom, where has second orality helped you? Where could it have helped you more?

• What is a challenge you face when using digital platforms to share ideas? What about using physical platforms?

• How are primary and secondary orality important?