The Return to Oral Communication:

A Consideration of the Theory of Transformative Technologies

The emergence of electronic media has clearly changed many aspects of human life, including employment, entertainment, and education. However, perhaps most importantly, since it also encompasses these three noted elements, is the effect of electronic media on communication. In Chapter 2 of Electric Language, author Michael Heim address the importance of this change through his critique of the theory of transformative technologies as elaborated from the work of Eric Havelock and Walter Ong.

Heim qualifies this theory citing a number of major historical changes in communication, such as the transition of early cultures from primarily oral/aural to chirographic (that of written communication), then to printed text, and on to electronic media. He posits that Ong’s version of the transformation theory culminates in a study of the shift from typographic to electronic media. Furthermore, he takes an eschatological view in that “With electronic technology, orality brings the distance full circle.” (Heim 68). It is this concept of the orality present in modern communication that I will address more closely within this paper.

Methods of Communicating Orally

Based on Havelock’s theories, Heim states that much communication in preliterate societies was exemplified by the epic poem. “The Homeric poem is the paradigm of communication in an orally based culture.” (Heim 52). Heim’s statement is based on the idea that the nature of the human thought process is such that rhythmic, metered, repetitive line styles are more easily and accurately retained. While this is undeniably true, it is based on current studies and observations of a literate society. The epic poem is not the only method used to communicate and pass-down information, stories, and history through generations.

Many of Heim’s discussions included aspects of theology, such as the religious backgrounds of Havelock and Ong. He also discusses religious tales passed on orally through methods such as the poem or song, and of early oral cultures being dominated by an awareness of direct spiritual presence. As this is true of the chapter, it is surprising that not Havelock, Ong, or Heim made reference to the Islamic holy book. The history of the Koran is an exceptional example of an oral-aural culture communicating a substantial amount of material over an extensive amount of time. The “direct” word of God to his Prophet, Muhammad comprises 114 Suras (sections) of varying length, is not in any repetitive or rhythmic structure, yet was memorized in its entirety and was communicated orally for many years before it was written down.

“The whole structure of the Koran is a science in itself, as there is no chronology in it, like the one found in the Bible, and as the most of it consists of commandments and warnings, and only a small part are stories.” (Encyclopedia of the Orient).

One requirement (Pillar) of Islam, even today, is for its followers to memorize the Koran in its entirety; however, Muslims now have the text to assist them in this process. While the task of accurately memorizing such a tome passed on orally seems virtually inconceivable today, it was far more common during the era surrounding Muhammad (610-632). This is not to suggest that the physical brain was any different centuries ago than it is today. Rather, in a wholly oral-aural society, the thought process, including comprehension and retention, was quite different than that of a literate society. The ability to accurately remember such a large amount of material would be better than it is today, as it would be a necessity of communication that we have not needed since becoming a literate culture many centuries ago.

Current Oral Communication

One of the original benefits in the transition from primarily oral-aural societies to literate ones was that communication, business transactions, orations, and instructions could be made permanent for verification, recollection, and historical reasons. However, with the advent of electronic technology came the ability to record audio communication directly, from early devices such as wax cylinders to the more recent hand-held tape recorders. Now, such products are digital, so one can save audio to computer memory, edit it more easily and economically, and transfer it to other individuals more quickly. Digital technology is even transforming us into an increasingly paperless society, since textual files can be produced, filed, and transferred more effectively than through previous methods.

The near future of communication even suggests that it could increase beyond its current level of orality. With the current availability of quality transcription software (both voice-to-text and text-to-assimilated voice) and advancements being made in voice command products and software, it is conceivable that the standard computer keyboard will become a crude, rarely used tool.

Our current level of technology does allow us to speak into a microphone and have our speech translated into text and then have that text spoken aloud through an assimilated voice. While there is clearly a need for each of these functions, they are generally not used together. However, it seems likely that for each of these purposes there would be situations in which we could remove the translation process and simply communicate in direct oral methods.

One disadvantage that Heim noted was that the receiver of information in the early oral societies was often forced to take the information from the speaker without question or critique, and the beginning of the written word allowed that individual to experience the information independently. It is, of course, no longer necessary to have the speaker present in the same room as the receiver in order to communicate orally. Therefore, there could be somewhat new applications for oral communication through current technologies.

Consider the trend of Podcasting in which an individual can download an audio stream to a personal MP3 player. In this way, the individual can experience information communicated from a variety of individuals on any given topic. This transcends the radio, as it is controllable, modifiable, and repeatedly retrievable by the user. Currently, users download podcasts on topics such as current events, product reviews, political opinion, and religious orations. There is a definite egalitarian aspect to the podcast. This factor is somewhat disturbing, as one must question the source and authority of the speaker, which may be more difficult to do than verifying such information about a published author. However, it is also quite exciting, as it is truly a social leveler. Since virtually anyone can create a podcast, so too can one find downloadable audio/oral information on a plethora of topics.

As a new form of oral (and electronic) communication, one can imagine the many applications for this product. It could be used in elearning with a professor or a corporate training representative providing educational material in downloadable form. It could be used for instructions with the purchaser of a new product able to download audio assembly instructions from the manufacturer’s website. Even a delivery driver, who found herself stranded with a non-functioning vehicle, could download pre-recorded audio instructing her how to perform a given repair.

The Future of Oral Communication

While our culture is becoming increasingly paperless, I am not suggesting that we are to become “textless” as well, reverting to a primarily oral-aural society. However, it is a genuinely interesting topic to entertain. If we can acknowledge that one of the primary reasons for the dawn of the written word was to make spoken word tangible, permanent, transferable, and retrievable then we can consider what would happen to that tool if the need no longer existed.

One can conceive many situations in which the paper product would not b needed. Discussions, meeting, contracts, records, even instructions could all be stored merely as audio and retrieved when needed. Even signatures could be verifiable audio signatures. The idea seems foreign, since it is very unlike any that we have previously lived. There is a certain panic that sets in about, “How am I going to …,” “What about my …?” Similar fears have struck in many recent transitions, but it was merely a matter of adjusting to life with the new technology. For example, there is no longer a need to place everything on floppy discs for transfer. Individuals can generally rely on the methods of electronic distribution, such as email and FTP transfers. With each new technological advancement that alters how we communicate information, there come new applications, new ways of considering how they effect our lives, and how they effect the human thought process, and there will be many such advancements arising quickly.

This is not to suggest that Vannevar Bush’s concept of tapping directly into human nerve or brain impulses is around the corner, though history proves one should never discount any futuristic prediction completely. Bush questioned, “Might not these current be intercepted, either in the original form in which information is conveyed to the brain, or in the marvelously metamorphosed form in which they then proceed to the hand?” (Bush We May Think). The idea invokes images of Hollywood science fiction films, such as The Matrix and Brainstorm. However, Bush can easily be likened to individuals such as Jules Verne, who wrote of specific contraptions long before the items actually came into existence.

While one cannot, of course, surely predict the future, it certainly can be seen that there are definite advancements being made in technology, such as in personal communication, film and game entertainment, and computing, and many of these advancement are clearly aimed toward oral communication. Assuredly, one can see that many of these advancements in oral communication will bring currently nonexistent products to fruition. To acknowledge that these items will be manifest in the next 5-10 years is not to say that we will all progress to communication via telepathy or record our thoughts and messages by inserting a wire or transmitter into a “bio-port.” Rather, one can examine current products, trends, and studies to predict likely changes that will occur and will affect the way in which we communicate orally and the way in which we define, study, and use new forms of communication.

Bibliography

Bush, Vannevar. 1945. “As We May Think.” Atlantic Monthly, 176 (1), 101-108.

Encyclopedia of the Orient. (http://i-cias.com/e.o/koran.htm).

Heim, Michael. 1999. "The Theory of Transformative Technologies." Electric Language, 2nd ed. New Haven: Yale University Press.