Indeed, if these final decades of the millennium have…
““Indeed, if these final decades of the millennium have taught us anything, it must be that oral tradition never was the ‘other’ we accused it of being; it never was the primitive, preliminary technology of communication we thought it had to be. Rather, if the whole truth is told, oral tradition stands out as the single most dominant communicative technology of our species, as both a historical fact and, in many areas still, a contemporary reality. The miracle of the flat inscribable surface and Gutenberg’s genius aside, even the electronic revolution cannot challenge the long-term preeminence of the oral tradition. ("Introduction" by John Foley)””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The text argues that oral tradition remains humanity's dominant communication method, despite technological advances.
In simple terms: Oral tradition still dominates communication today.
Key Takeaway
Value and preserve oral knowledge.
Themes
communication
history
technology
culture
Mood
analytical
informative
Type
Communication:1
History:1
Literacy:0
Oral tradition:1
Orality:1
Primitive:0
Technology:0
Electronic Revolution:0
Communicative Technology:1
Dominant Communicative:1
Tradition Introduction:1
When to use this quote
- education
- community storytelling
- media development
Key Concepts
anthropology
media studies
cognitive science
Questions to Reflect On
- How does oral tradition complement modern media?
- What are its limits today?
A Different Perspective
May overlook digital benefits.