After reading this article the example that really got me thinking right away was simply the switch of language from sound to vision.
"Marshall McLuhan and Walter Ong thought print helped further reorient language from sound to vision, paving the way for our screen-fixated present."
As simple as it is, language switching from people talking to each other, to people reading and writing is huge. For example, without writing people could have never learned different languages from what they were taught while growing up. Because without seeing the words, it's pretty dang hard to learn a different language just through sound. In short, texts and the "reading revolution" have everything to do with communication. Through texts people are able to learn new things from outside of where they come from. They can learn other languages so they can communicate with others outside of where they live, people are able to imagine what the text is talking about rather than focusing on listening.
In relation to Ong and what he has written about, you can't communicate solely through sound. Your brain needs a different type of medium to bring out ideas. With speech there are so many other processes going on in the brain forcing you to think about what you are going to say, and make the sounds to say it however with writing you don't need to speak, so there are all kinds of completely different processes going on, processes that happen in the right (creative) side of the brain rather than the left (logical) side. As Ong says, speaking comes naturally to every human, but writing doesn't. Writing and reading is something that must be learned, and practiced. Therefore the switch from only communicating through sound to communicating through sound AND vision was immensely important in human consciousness, and still is. There is more room for interpretation through writing/texts, and more room for the mind to think. Also as Ong said, writing is rebellious! things written down to read are not always the best or most appropriate things to say out loud, and in turn once again have the ability to leave the reader open to interpretation.
I have to agree, there is definitely more room for the mind to think when things are written down! Sometimes I get this inspirational thought and forget to write it down, and can't think of it later because my mind is full of so many other things. Like these blogs for example, I found that if I just start writing what comes to mind right away, its a lot easier for me because I can always go back and organize what I already wrote down.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, great post :)
It is super interesting to think about how some people have more guts to write down what they think and believe, sharing it with others, but much too timid to speak aloud of what is on their minds. However, it's simply true that when one finds time to read and write, they work more of their brain, in turn bringing out more ideas. I myself feel as though if I have the chance to really sit down and research information and slowly begin writing on a topic, I learn a whole lot. This probably goes for tons of people. I really admire individuals who can get up in front of a group of people and just have a conversation or share their ideas openly, ready for direct interaction with an audience perhaps.
ReplyDeleteGood job; definitely some good stuff here. Could use a wee bit more fleshing out...but generally good.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your claims that writing helps to develop our brains. I also think there is a good deal of learning that comes from reading, not just reading informative articles or textbooks, but any type of book. Reading through conversations and the thoughts of others who have had different experiences and are placed in different contexts can help us to develop new ways of thinking and writing/speaking ourselves.
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