Class Response

Respond to Ong's assertion that "all verbal expression is bound to sound forever."

I would agree with this assertion only because speech is natural. No matter how primitive it is, some form of speech has always been present. It does not matter if this speech is formal or not, it is simply the fact that there will always be verbal expression to hear. Unless the human population evolves into a vocal chord-less species, than speech will forever be present.

However, I believe that perhaps the importance of verbal expression might change over the course of time. For example in the chapter about how Homer was able to memorize the Odyssey and the Iliad in order to tell his stories, I think that the reasons for oral communication will change. This does not mean that oral communication will cease to exist. I just cannot believe that there would ever be a time in which there would be no verbal expression.

Like I said before, verbal expression is instinct. When something scares you, you may scream or make some sort of noise out of habit. This noise is actually warning others that there is something dangerous near. Nobody would be frightened by something and rush to a pen and paper to write down, "AHHHHHH!!!"

But I suppose there is always room for change.