prices #3

C. Rosie Caldwell
Professor M Boland
English 329
12 February 2009
Heath, Shirley Brice. “Protean Shapes in Literacy Events: Ever-Shifting Oral and Literate
Traditions.” Literacy: A Critical Sourcebook. Cushman, Ellen. et al. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2001. 443-466.
Discussion of Heath
There are some sentiments suggested by previous researchers that read: “language of the oral tradition is held to suggest meaning without explicitly stating information” (443). Furthermore, they discuss how “Certain discourse forms, such as the parable or proverb, […] are formulaic uses of language which convey meanings without direct explication. Thus, truth lies in experience and is verified by the experience of listeners” (443). More importantly, “literacy even is a conceptual tool useful in examining within particular communities of modern society the actual forms and functions of oral literate traditions and co-existing relationship between spoken and written language” (445). Yet there are other ideas that seem to suggest that orally-based communities are somewhat inferior to a written based community. Heath did research on a community that was orally-based, and she discusses her findings.
In Trackton, the children are exposed to spontaneous stories rather than ‘molded’ stories. Does this in any way reflect these children’s level of literacy and their potential success in life? Although many researchers seem to suggest that oral communities are sheltered and not capable of critical, concrete, abstract and analytical ideals, Heath is able to negate this. Her study as an ethnographer, has led her to be able to shed light on the functionality of these oral-centered children. At the age of two and half, is able to describe: “Way / Far / Now / It a church bell / Ringin’ / Dey singin’ / Ringin’ / You hear it? / I hear it /Far / Now” (449). This is a poetic, fluent speech that communicates an idea, a sound and engages the listener. Heath demonstrates how these children are literate in their own way and their way of communicating with one another is no way irrelevant or inferior, but different.
Heath further explains how literacy is developed and shown within the community. “Adults read and wrote for numerous purposes, almost all of them social” they included instrumental, interactional, news-related, confirmation, provision, memory-supportive, substitutes for oral messages. Literacy was utilized for social activities and interactions with others. Heath also demonstrates how much more diverse and varied the language is when coming from an orally-based individual. Expression of personal involvement, expression in a wide variety of sentence structure, use of informal style and Black English vernacular forms are all further elaborated through her discussion.
This research was able to demonstrate how “Tackton is a literate community in the sense that the residents are able to read printed and written materials in their daily lives, and on occasion they produce written messages as part of the total pattern of communication in the community” (460). It is very important and key to know that “residents turn from written to spoken uses of language and vice versa as the occasion demands, and the two modes of expression seem to supplement and reinforce each other in a unique pattern” (460). There is a different dynamic in these types of communities. The assumption that orally-based communities are inferior, or in some way lacking certain or essential skills, is completely false. The people from Trackton are able to show to us that they are able to function quite successfully in their communities. Their thinking is not hindered or broken; their communication is no less effective. This research is eye opening, in that it points out functionality of language. How language is used to allow an individual to successfully maneuver through life and society. There is an arrogance demonstrated by some researchers and people when they suggest that people who are technically illiterate are insignificant and inferior. Language and literacy in reading and writing are not enough to determine the worth or effectiveness of a person.