The Tyrrany of Literacy. On oral tradition and what is lost
2 days ago
- #mythology
- #memory
- #oral traditions
- Oral traditions in pre-literate societies can preserve detailed and accurate historical and scientific information over millennia.
- The Klamath people's oral history accurately described the volcanic eruption that formed Crater Lake 7,700 years ago.
- Oral societies use storytelling as a method to store, organize, and transmit knowledge without written records.
- The 'tyranny of literacy' refers to the underestimation of oral traditions' capabilities by literate societies.
- Patrick Nunn's research highlights how oral traditions in the Pacific Islands contain empirical knowledge, such as submergence stories linked to post-glacial sea-level rise.
- Modern technology, like smartphones, has diminished human memory skills, contrasting with the robust memory techniques of oral societies.
- The Vedas were orally transmitted for centuries before being written down, using elaborate mnemonic techniques.
- Mantras in Indian religions are considered sacred sounds with spiritual power, often recited for their phonology rather than semantics.
- Some individuals resist modern technology to preserve innate abilities, such as handwriting or typewriting.
- The article discusses the potential impact of AI and LLMs on human cognition and memory, drawing parallels to historical shifts in information processing.