David Thornton - Ong's Orality and Literacy

After reading Walter Ong’s book on Orality and Literacy, I think is important to understand my own educational biases. I have been brought up to appreciate the power of reading. This might be in case because of my parent’s positive experiences with the power of written literature, or because of modern America. As of now though, I naturally inclinate towards written material in my educational pursuits. I understand and comprehend ideas and concepts better through reading. I think as Ong points out, that his does limit my abilities in communication and rhetoric. I have a relatively hard time putting my thoughts into words and most of the time I cannot describe fully the idea I am trying to explain or communicate. I am not saying that I am going to focus more on my oral abilites in my discourse with other people. But I will say that it something that over time I think It is something with which I can gain progress. I think it is somewhat sad for me to have a harder time talking about an issue rather than writing or reading about it. In my educational pursuits I am going to progress my oral abilities and hopefully gain some insight into how I better use that for clear and more effective communication with other people and with the Sacred.