Ways of Articulating

Ways of Articulating

Definition: The orality traits linked to language, narrative, and words that help people articulate the things around us so that we gain a shared understanding. People tend to think more generally/descriptively on one side of the lingual spectrum. On the other side of the spectrum, people tend to value more precise/technical expressions. The Orality Quotient shows the aggregated score combining…
May 14, 2023Posted inTraits Cluster, Traits of Orality
Words

Words

Definition Building blocks of a language describing local realities for shared understanding and expression. The evolving speech and multiple literacies bond people to their environment. They express both literal and figurative meanings. Story: Do You Have a Word for It? Lerato: I'm having a hard time explaining this to you. There's no word for it in your language. Andrew: What…
May 14, 2023Posted inArticulating, Traits of Orality
Symbols

Symbols

Definition It includes words, signs, colors, gestures, pictures, metaphors, rituals, etc., and embodies an idea, object, or relationship. Some cultures predominantly use shared marks (scarring, ring) and signs (flag, color). In contrast, other cultures rely more on words to bring meaning and mutual understanding within a people group. Story: Just Say It! Jack: We need to be the arrow, not…
May 14, 2023Posted inExpressing, Traits of Orality
Language

Language

Definition A communication system structured in vocabulary and grammar expressed through sounds, symbols, gestures, and other non-verbal cues. Language is passed on generationally and identifies people as a group. Most languages develop a written script. Story: I Don't Understand My Teacher Lila grew up in a small village nestled in the mountains. It was her first day of class, and…
May 14, 2023Posted inArticulating, Traits of Orality
Ways of Expressing

Ways of Expressing

Definition: How we display our inner speech through arts, rituals, and symbols. They generate the power to penetrate the heart and transform the mind by engaging all senses. On one end of the spectrum, people generally tend to immerse themselves in the medium of their own cultural expressions. On the other side of the spectrum, people observe the medium and…
May 14, 2023Posted inTraits Cluster, Traits of Orality
Narrative

Narrative

Definition The human capacity to create and share stories of all kinds. They serve as a vehicle to receive, process, remember, and pass on knowledge, ideas, and values. Story: A Lifechaging Story Sara was walking in the park when she saw an old man sitting on a bank. Sara: Excuse me, sir. May I sit next to you? Eli: Of…
May 14, 2023Posted inArticulating, Traits of Orality
Arts

Arts

Definition The innate creative capacity to express our inner speech through all our senses. Typically people think of arts by referring to mastery (artists). For our purposes, it is a spectrum that ranges from being artistic (a child drawing a stick-figure picture) to the master artist or artisan (a painter painting a masterpiece). Story: The Art Critic Learning The art…
May 14, 2023Posted inExpressing, Traits of Orality
Rituals

Rituals

Definition It encompasses several other traits of orality. They act out and convey collective meaning to successive life events (weddings, graduations). Story: Why Would You Do This to Yourself? Michael: This tradition sounds crazy to me. Suryo: It might seem strange to you, but it's a part of our culture. Michael: But what's the point of enduring that kind of…
May 14, 2023Posted inExpressing, Traits of Orality
Ways of Relating

Ways of Relating

Definition: The orality traits of identity, respect, and environment describe our connectedness within our world and community. People generally function more holistically on one side of the spectrum – they are a part of the whole. On the other side of the spectrum, people tend to see the parts more than the whole through clearly delineated categories and compartments. The…
May 14, 2023Posted inTraits Cluster, Traits of Orality
Respect

Respect

Definition It relates to the level of admiration for others. It may be ascribed, confirmed, or earned on qualities, achievements, or capabilities. Respect is part of a person’s collective value or role in a social system. Story: Coffee-Wisdom Bob and Jim were co-workers at a tech startup. During their coffee break, they talked about respecting their elders. Bob: I think…
May 14, 2023Posted inRelating, Traits of Orality
Identity

Identity

Definition How individuals or groups perceive and define themselves and others. Most clearly, it relates to how a people group looks at themselves primarily as individuals (I am, therefore WE are) or collectively as a larger group (We are, therefore I am). Story: Lending the Borrowed Ladder Gregory: Hey, neighbor, I came to get my ladder back. I need to…
May 14, 2023Posted inRelating, Traits of Orality
Environment

Environment

Definition The sum of all the interacting living things (material and non-material) and non-living elements and how they affect human life's growth, health, progress, and meaning. Story: Powerplay over a Powerline Kent: I understand your concerns, Chief Wamalwa, but we assure you that we will take every precaution to minimize any impact on the land. Chief Wamalwa: You don’t understand.…
May 14, 2023Posted inRelating, Traits of Orality
Ways of Organizing

Ways of Organizing

Definition: The traits that describe our sense of time, need for change, and how we classify things in our world. They represent how we tend to frame and manage the patterns and movement of life together. On one side of the spectrum, people generally frame things closely connected to everyday life. On the other side of the spectrum, people tend…
May 14, 2023Posted inTraits Cluster, Traits of Orality
Change

Change

Definition How people value innovation. That may include ideas, teachings, or technologies that affect their daily life and processes. Story: Electrifying Change John: I'm thinking about getting an electric car. They're environmentally friendly and much cheaper to run. What do you think? Tom: I don't know, I prefer gasoline cars. They're easier to find fuel for, and I'm used to…
May 14, 2023Posted inOrganizing, Traits of Orality
Classification

Classification

Definition Patterns by which we holistically structure and arrange our world. That includes our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual realities. Story: What is a Dolphin? A biologist, David, was on a remote archipelago trying to classify the different fish species in the area. As he talked with the locals, Isaac, one of the islanders, began describing a creature he had…
May 14, 2023Posted inOrganizing, Traits of Orality
Time

Time

Definition The created sequential dimension in which we experience life in the eternity of God. Story: Deal or No-deal? Tom: We need to get this deal done quickly because I must be at the Airport at 5 pm. Mai: Why are you in such a hurry? We have all day. Tom: Well, I have other meetings scheduled and must stick…
May 14, 2023Posted inOrganizing, Traits of Orality
Ways of Knowing

Ways of Knowing

Definition: These traits require a more complex set of factors. They represent how we capture and process a message, how people really learn, and their preferred ways of remembering a message. On one side of the spectrum, people gravitate to familiar patterns, repetition, and non-linear logic. On the other side, people tend to need a line of reasoning that progresses…
May 14, 2023Posted inTraits Cluster, Traits of Orality
Sensemaking

Sensemaking

Definition How our brain receives and interacts with all information, stimuli, and data. We then filter and synthesize it according to usefulness, understanding, and relevance. We structure (get our minds around) the unknown to act in or on what becomes known to us. Story: The Group Assignment Samantha and Ryan were assigned to work on a group project for their…
May 14, 2023Posted inKnowing, Traits of Orality
Memory

Memory

Definition How individuals or groups process and store information, experiences, and data (received through all senses) for future recall. Story: Living Stories Grandma Khadija had just finished telling Amina a story about a wise king who defeated his enemies with kindness. Amina: Grandma, how can you remember all these stories? You should write them down so we don't forget them.…
May 14, 2023Posted inKnowing, Traits of Orality
Learning

Learning

Definition A pathway for people to construct knowledge, acquire skills, and develop attitudes. Learning domains include cognition, affection, and behavior leading to change. Story: Is School Necessary? Teacher: Good morning, sir. I'm here to talk to you about your son's education. Mr. Birchwood: What about it? Teacher: I think it would be a good idea for your son to attend…
May 14, 2023Posted inKnowing, Traits of Orality
Orality Quotient (OQ)

Orality Quotient (OQ)

The Orality Quotient (OQ) is how we measure a people group's reliance on oral communication. It ranges from very LOR (close to 0) to very HOR (approximating 100). There is no such thing as a dichotomy between oral and non-oral people. It is a preference spectrum ranging from very LOR to very HOR people. Most people fit somewhere in between…
May 14, 2023Posted inOrality
Low Orality Reliant (LOR)

Low Orality Reliant (LOR)

Low Orality Reliance describes people who primarily learn from written text. Even LOR people still use their innate orality expressed with music, drama, stories, etc. Still, the difference to HOR culture is that they prefer to learn from written text, often seen as superior to orality methods of communicating news, important information, and truths. When the Bible came from Gutenberg’s…
May 14, 2023Posted inOrality
High Orality Reliant (HOR)

High Orality Reliant (HOR)

High Orality Reliance describes people who prefer to communicate with oral methods instead of relying on written text. It’s how they best receive, understand, remember, and pass on news, important information, and truths. They prefer music, drama, and stories from people they trust in language they understand and terms they use. 80% of the world remains highly reliant on oral…
May 14, 2023Posted inOrality
Unreached People Group (UPG)

Unreached People Group (UPG)

A group of individuals with limited exposure to the Christian faith and restricted access to the Good News is called an Unreached People Group (UPG). A UPG is a group with less than 2% of Evangelicals. These groups may be geographically isolated, linguistically distinct, or culturally resistant to the Christian message, challenging missionaries to spread the Good News. It is…
May 14, 2023Posted inOrality