Oracy matters. Introduction to the special issue on oracy

Abstract

This special issue is the first issue in the history of 20 years of the L1-Educational Studies in Language and Literature on Oracy. That might be an indication of the lack of research in L1-oracy. With this special issue we would like to stimulate other researchers in L1-Education to study oracy. Oracy is the most utilized and basic form of human communication, and is fundamental in being able to express oneself as well as participating in civic life. Oracy makes humans available for each other's expressed inner thoughts, and for ourselves. In return, oracy makes humans unique as a species (Tomasello, 2010). We acquire the language system. We develop oral competence. At the same time we practice and improve our language learning system, establishing the basis for the acquisition of other languages and the written code, and opening the window to the world of words and concepts. We learn by mirroring each other, through complex interaction with gestures, vocal language, and cognition (Tomasello, 2010). As humans, we, learn and develop from each other's responses. Oracy is productive, sharing one's own thoughts by converting thoughts into language and sounds as well as receptive, processing received sounds into meaning. Production and reception goes often hand in hand, e.g. in a conversation: give and take. Settings can vary along many dimensions, like the direction (a pure monologue vs a dialogue), the number of participants (speaking to an audience of 100 listeners

Lærernes stemme om det uuttalte muntlighetskonstruktet: «Muntlighet – kompetansen som blir tatt forgitt»

“…In the current study, the work with oracy in Norwegian schools appeared to be unsystematic as found in Penne (2006). In sum, oracy has a low status in Norway as it has internationally (Kaldahl et al, 2019).…”

The Development of Oracy Skills in an Efl Context Using Youtube Videos: A Case Study

“…Spoken language is a unique characteristic of the human species and a key to our evolution and civilization (Tomasello, 2010). People develop oral competence gradually and learn from interactions with other people (Kaldahl et al, 2019). Spoken communication is foundational to education, in general, and language learning, in particular.…”

“…In more detail, oracy is a two-way process between interlocutors and as such, it involves the productive skill of speaking since a form of linguistic output is demanded, and the receptive skill of listening in which the input is received and understood (Kaldahl et al,2019). The inter-relatedness between the aforementioned skills is complex and one skill supports the development of the other (Kaldahl et al, 2019).…”

Key elements of L1-oral language teaching and learning in secondary education. A literature review

“…Despite the increased attention for L1-oral language education in the last twenty years, there is hardly any present-day, empirical evidence about effective L1-oral language education available (Bonset & Braaksma, 2008;Kaldahl, Bachinger & Rijlaarsdam, 2019;Kaldahl, 2019). In order to inform L1-teachers in secondary schools and L1-curricula reformers, we analyzed international research literature to deduce key elements of good quality L1-oral language teaching.…”