In yesterday’s podcast (now ready for download on our Show Notes page) we talked about Orality (and Literacy). Orality is a word that is certainly not very common in the average person’s vocabulary, and seems to be one that is queried frequently when I discuss or teach on the subject of storying and discipling oral learners. I thought it would be good to write a little definition in here to possibly help in understanding it when we refer to it on the podcasts or use it on this site ...

[This quote is from the book Making Disciples of Oral Learners, which we introduced in last week’s podcast. You can check out the Show Notes page to get your own copy - a great summary resource on the subject of orality]

Orality refers to the almost two-thirds of our world’s population that is non-literate (commonly referred to as 'illiterate'), or has an oral preference (can’t, won’t or don’t read or write). It describes the quality or state of being oral. It is the constellation of characteristics (cognitive, communicational and relational) that are typical of cultures that function orally.

For a list of “109 Characteristics of Oral and Literate Communicators” click here and scroll half way down the page that opens in your browser.