Oral Cultures: Memory and Performance
In purely oral societies, communication is inherently social, contextual, and dynamic.
Knowledge is stored in memory and passed down through performance—often in the form of
stories, songs, proverbs, and rituals. As Walter J. Ong explains in his seminal work Orality and
Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word, oral cultures rely on repetition, mnemonic devices,
and rhythm to ensure knowledge is retained across generations (Ong, 1982).
“Oral communication,” Ong writes, “unites people in groups. Writing and reading are solitary
activities that can divide as much as they unite.” In these societies, storytelling is not just
entertainment; it’s a way of preserving history, law, and social norms. Language is rich in
imagery, metaphor, and formulaic patterns that help speakers recall and recreate content without
written aids.
The Rise of Literacy: A Cognitive Revolution
The invention of writing—first in Sumer around 3200 BCE—marked the beginning of a new era.
With it came the possibility of recording events, developing legal systems, and preserving
philosophical and scientific ideas across time and space. Literacy enabled cumulative
knowledge, allowing future generations to build on past discoveries.
More importantly, scholars argue that literacy altered the very structure of human consciousness.
Ong suggests that literacy fosters abstract thought, logical reasoning, and analytical
thinking—modes of cognition that are less prominent in oral cultures (Ong, 1982). Writing,
unlike speech, is detached from the speaker and the immediate context. It allows for reflection,
revision, and the development of complex argumentation.
Orality and Literacy in Tension
The transition from orality to literacy did not happen without tension. Plato, writing in
4th-century BCE Greece, expressed concern that writing would lead to forgetfulness and
intellectual laziness: “It will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise
memory because they rely on that which is written” (Phaedrus, 275a).
Ironically, these concerns survive today in written form—highlighting the paradox of literacy.
While writing preserves knowledge, it also changes the way that knowledge is understood and
valued. Oral cultures prioritize communal memory; literate societies privilege permanence and
objectivity.
Contemporary Relevance: A Hybrid Age
In today’s digital landscape, we are witnessing a renewed blend of orality and literacy. Voice
messaging, podcasts, YouTube videos, and social media mimic oral forms of
communication—spontaneous, performative, and audience-centered—while still relying on
literate technologies.
Media theorist Marshall McLuhan famously said, “The medium is the message,” emphasizing
how different forms of media shape not just what we communicate but how we think (McLuhan,
1964). Understanding the dynamics between orality and literacy helps us navigate this hybrid
environment more consciously.
Conclusion: Rediscovering Orality in a Literate World
Orality and literacy are not opposing forces, but complementary modes of human expression.
While literacy enables the precision and permanence necessary for science, history, and law,
orality reminds us of the importance of memory, community, and human presence in
communication.
As we move deeper into an age of digital media—where written text, spoken word, and visual
content blend seamlessly—reflecting on the foundations of orality and literacy helps us
appreciate the richness of human expression.
Dr. Mohita Chaturvedi Sharma
Head & Assistant professor
Department of Sociology
References:
● Ong, W. J. (1982). Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word. Methuen.
● Plato. (370 BCE). Phaedrus (trans. Benjamin Jowett).
● McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. McGraw-Hill.