I would like to link this assignment with Megan Ravenhill’s task on voice to text. In this task, Megan and I share many similar experiences. For instance, we both encountered grammar mistakes and punctuation mistakes. Coincidently but not surprisingly, we both believe having a script would help us process our ideas properly, and help us communicate more effectively. More specifically, a written script would help us build the story with a clear structure where there is the hook, transition, climax, and ending, with the purpose of vividly portray the story.
Now, I would like to delve deeper into the discussion of oral storytelling and written storytelling. How are they different? In a broader sense, we are talking about how orality and writing each have affected how people think, speak, read and write.
In reflection of Megan and my comments about oral storytelling and written storytelling. We all feel oral storytelling stands a strong position in delivering emotions through intonation, pitch, and voice. However, that does not mean writing would weaken the effect. In fact, writing did not reduce orality but enhanced it, “making it possible to organize the ‘principles’ or constituents of oratory into a scientific ‘art’ (Walter, Taylor & Francis, 2007).” This is exactly why we feel more comfortable having a written script when telling stories. Even an experienced standup comedian needs to compose and write the script, memorize it and practice it before going up on stage. Perhaps knowing American President Joe Biden also uses a teleprompter when giving a speech would make you feel better?
Scholars cried out “without writing, human consciousness cannot achieve its fuller potentials (Walter, Taylor & Francis, 2007).” I couldn’t agree with this statement more, without writing, I cannot remember what my schedule is like for tomorrow, let alone achieve potentials or accomplish goals. Thus, I trust notes and calendar reminders, as they help me to stay on track with what has been accomplished, what is next, and what are my actions items. If I were in a brainstorming session, I would definitely jot down these ideas before it slips away unnoticeably.
Fast backward to ancient eras, how were ancient cultures made known by generations thousand years later? Was it through orality or writing? The answer is very obvious. In ancient China, Mesopotamia, and Mesoamerica where historians and archaeologists discovered the origins of writing (Schmandt-Besserat, 2009). The legacies were passed on through various forms of writing, like drawings on the wall of caves, numbers and marks on stones or animal bones. Both writing and orality have evolved centuries to reach where we are today. And they are still adapting to meet the changing needs which come from societal, political, cultural, and economic aspects. Our ancestors probably did not anticipate writing to be done by word processors or other communication technologies. But if you can dream big, what do you see in the future of writing?
Erard (2003) proposed the development of a universal standard for text coding with computers would be a remarkable achievement for the future of writing. It may seem to be too idealistic at the moment, in viewing our ancestors strived centuries to develop their own unique languages, English, French, Chinese, and many more. This vision may or may not be true, but what we know certainly is communication technologies will continue to develop, consequently, shape the way we think.
References
Ong, Walter, J. Taylor & Francis eBooks – CRKN, & CRKN MiL Collection. (2002). Orality and literacy: The technologizing of the word. New York; London: Routledge.
Schmandt-Besserat, D. (2009). “Origins and Forms of Writing.” In Bazerman, C. (Ed.). Handbook of research on writing: History, society, school, individual, text. New York, NY: Routledge.
