Why should we talk about oracy? Reflections on a fragmented field
Authors
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Karen Johanna Mariángel-Carvajal
Universidad de Chile
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1475-4191
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Abstract
Oracy in the first language is essential for people’s social participation and self-expression. However, its teaching has received limited theoretical and empirical attention compared to reading and writing. This is directly related to the coexistence of multiple conceptualizations and terminologies—often polysemic—that make mapping the field particularly challenging. This essay aims to describe and compare the main conceptualizations of oracy in the first language. Based on an inquiry across diverse sources, a notable conceptual fragmentation has been identified, although three predominant categories emerge: oracy as communicative competence, as a predictor of other skills, and as a foundation for dialogue and interaction. These tensions call for reflection on the future of the field and the epistemologies, disciplines, and perspectives that converge within it.Keywords:
oral communication , orality , spoken language , L1References
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