Task 3: Voice to Text
Unscripted Text
The other day I went on a dogo adventure with my Milo and my cousin’s dog to sign. I realize that when we got there I really didn’t want my love to go into the water because every time he gets in the water, he doesn’t really swim, and instead he’s more of a let stand in the water and get my entire body wet and muddy which would require a shower but not actually swim and release some energy which is what my owner would love me to do. I found that once we got there I didn’t actually bring a ball or any waterproof is be so we had to find a stick to throw in for hopefully one of the dogs to go and fetch. That being said though it was quite a crowded day considering it was on a Thursday so we decided that it’s just easier if we did a quick little hike around the park and head back home when we got to the beach Milo was losing his mind and we could not figure out why until about 10 minutes later we see a little seal in the water popping its head up and down up and down. Realize that this points probably because my land sealed dog milo’s all an actual seal and wanted to play it was absolutely the cutest thing though however i’m glad that milo ended up not getting in the water because that probably wouldn’t have been a great situation.
How does the text deviate from conventions of written English?
One of the first things I noticed when reading through my story was how differently I communicate orally compared to how I would write out a story. For example, transitions from sentences or specific words that I would need to include in my dictation, like “period” or “comma,” would need to be said aloud to be included in my story, or they would not show up in the paragraph. The dictation also picked up additional words that I may have repeated when thinking of my story. Another difference I noticed is how the formatting does not exist through dictation. The story is written in one large paragraph and does not include any punctuation or separate into paragraphs unless specifically stated.
What is “wrong” in the text? What is “right”?
Overall, the general idea of the story is correct. Many words were spelled correctly and considering I went slower in the beginning when starting my dictation, it picked up general sentence structures. However, there are many things that are incorrect in this story. For example, it didn’t pick up the word “frisbee” but instead wrote down “is be.” There are many missing words that the voice to text may not have picked up either because I spoke too fast or because, considering that it was meant to be an oral story, I might have missed or interjected words as I tend to go on tangents.
What are the most common “mistakes” in the text and why do you consider them “mistakes”?
I noticed that towards the end, the words “I’m” and “Milo” were not capitalized. I consider these mistakes because it started off with capitals, but as the dictation went on, it did not pick them up. Another important mistake is the lack of punctuation. Depending on where commas might go or how the sentences end, it can change the narration of a story. When sharing a story, it is unnatural to say the words “comma” and “period” and because of that, there lack of punctuation is a common mistake I noticed.
What if you had “scripted” the story? What difference might that have made?
Having to think about a story on the spot versus having a scripted story made a big difference in my mind. This is because if I’m reading off something, the story has already been clearly thought through with proper punctuation, structure, and grammar. The story would have a proper flow, whereas when I was telling my story, I realized I missed some information. Instead of being able to go back and add it, I had to continue from where I left off.
In what ways does oral storytelling differ from written storytelling?
I find oral storytelling much easier when it’s in person or an audio recording. Audio recording is something I regularly do when texting my friends. If I were the speaker, I could explain the story, share details, or jump back and forth while having a conversation with someone. Oral storytelling allows for flexibility in language as well. For example, in the first sentence I said we went on a “doggo” adventure. If it was written, I would type out “dog”.
Additionally, listening to an oral story takes much longer than reading a written one. When I read through my story, it only took a few minutes, while it took me much longer to share the story. However, the voice-to-text app on iMessage doesn’t always do a great job at writing out what was said, so sometimes it is easier to just text if I am unable to listen.
I’ve read a few different posts on this assignment, and its funny seeing us all with very similar experiences/observations! One thing you said that stood out to me is your comment on how oral story telling takes longer to consume than a written story. Two of my best friends live abroad, and we’ve gotten into the habit lately of sending multiple lengthy voice-note diatribes. We’ll go through phases where its our only form of communication. And as you said, they take so long to listen to that I often find I put off listening to them – opting instead to let them build up and listen to them all in one go. Whereas if they were in text form, I would likely read, or at least scan through them, immediately.
Its entirely subjective, but I find oral storytelling easier to produce, but more tedious to consume. While I find written storytelling more difficult to produce, but easier to consume.
Though it arguably takes more concerted effort than reading, do you think that listening to oral storytelling commands our attention more effectively than written stories?
Hi Duncan,
I do think listening to oral storytelling captures attention differently than reading written stories. Oral storytelling engages listeners through the speaker’s voice, tone, pacing, and emotion. This creates a more immersive experience that written stories may not be able to do – I imagine hearing your own voice in your head not the same.
I do think it depends on individual preferences and situations though. Some may find the auditory experience more engaging, while others prefer the control offered by reading. Both can captivate attention, depending on the listener’s engagement and the skills of the storyteller or writer.
Hi April,
Thanks for sharing your story and reflection. i have read through of our classmates stories and reflection and seeing similar responses regarding punctuation; having to say ‘period’ , ‘comma’, doesn’t make sense when sharing an oral story. Did you start with that in your story, as I see that there are commas and periods?
I like how you point our that listening to an oral story takes much longer than reading a written one – something that I hadn’t considered before. This may have to do with the story teller, reading the audience, pausing for effect, etc. What is your thought on this?
Hi Carol,
I’ve used the voice-to-text feature before when sending messages, so I was more aware of needing to say “period” or “comma.” However, it doesn’t make sense to say punctuation words like that when telling a story. I think because I knew I was using the feature, I would see the words forming and say the punctuation needed. Good point!
Overall, I find listening to a story in an audio recording takes longer because depending on the speaker, there are definitely pauses for effect, different tempos, and variations in how they present themselves. Personally, I’m not an audiobook listener because I find that I can focus and attend to the text better than I can with an audiobook and though it may help me multitask, I find it less productive! Do you have any experiences with audiobooks or podcasts? What are your thoughts on them?
Hi April,
Your thoughts on using the voice-to-text feature and listening to audio stories remind me of what Walter J. Ong talks about in his book Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word. In Chapter 1, Ong dives into the differences between oral and written communication, and how each shapes our understanding and interaction with language.
He mentions that oral communication relies a lot on patterns, rhythm, and repetition, making it more about the performance and the communal experience. This fits with what you said about the pauses, different tempos, and variations in audio recordings. These elements add to the storytelling but can make listening take longer than reading.
Your preference for reading over listening might be because, as Ong notes, writing allows for more introspection and focus. Reading can be a more controlled and deliberate way to consume information, which could be why you find it better for concentration and productivity.
I get where you’re coming from with audiobooks and podcasts. I believe they can be great for multitasking and are often engaging, depending on the narrator. But I also find myself losing focus if I’m not fully tuned in. For more educational purposes (like this course) watching and listening to YouTube video’s, I like the feature of being able to increase the playback speed (I find 1.25 a good fit), however I will admit to using the closed caption feature so that I can also read the text. When using audio component, be it audiobook, podcast or YouTube, I find it trickier if I am going to quote or make notes on any of the work, as it takes more time to document it. That said, for casual or leisurely listening, they can be a nice change from traditional reading.
Reference:
Ong, W.J. (2002). Chapter 1: The orality of language.Links to an external site. In Orality and literacy: The technologizing of the word (pp. 5-16). Routledge. (Original work published 1982).