Dr. Catherine Young currently serves as Director for Global Language and Development Services for SIL International. She has worked in the Philippines and Bangladesh and also served as the Director of LEAD Asia. Currently, Catherine lives in Gloucester, UK. She has a PhD in Education with a specialism in multilingual education policy and planning.
Multimodal Scripture Engagement: A response to an Oppositional Perspective on Literacy and Orality.
Abstract
Oral strategies, including multiple approaches to Bible storying, have proven a tremendous contribution to Scripture engagement and provided an entry point for sharing the word of God with those without access to written Scripture. Increasingly, orality is foundational to innovative approaches in the Bible Translation movement. This presentation will examine the contribution of oral approaches to effective learning within a broad perspective on communication strategies and explore the challenges inherent in a limited, binary approach to communication strategies that positions literacy in opposition to orality. Concepts associated with power/control and modernity as well as personal and collective identity impact communicative approaches which, in turn, influence choices made by individuals and institutions. Employing both a historical and educational perspective on the influence of text-based learning, this paper will consider the significance multiple communicative approaches effectively support critical thinking and transformational Scripture engagement.