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Fluid Texts and Living Voices: Reciprocal Dynamicity of Aurality, Orality and Textuality in 'Katha' Tradition

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Title: Fluid Texts and Living Voices: Reciprocal Dynamicity of Aurality, Orality and Textuality in 'Katha' Tradition
Language: English
Authors: Amrapali Vyas (ORCID 0009-0005-9713-3380), Vaibhav Shah (ORCID 0000-0002-0509-9826)
Source: Literacy. 2026 60(2).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Literacy, Literacy Education, Multiple Literacies, Indigenous Knowledge, Models, Listening, Religion, Learning Modalities
Geographic Terms: India
DOI: 10.1111/lit.70026
ISSN: 1741-4350
1741-4369
Abstract: This study investigates "Katha" tradition, particularly "Ram Katha" and "Shrimad Bhagavat," as a dynamic epistemic paradigm that resists binary models of orality and literacy, particularly when visited in contrast to Ong's theory of communication and other theories of 'Great Divide' theses. The literature review explores Great Divide theories, New Literacy Studies (NLS) and the indigeneity of Indian narratology, revealing gaps in Western binary models that overlook Katha's performative, context-driven fluidity. Borrowing from the basic tenets of NLS, like multimodal literacy, hybridity and contextually relevant knowledge, this study proposes an indigenous 'Triadic Recursive Model of Narrative Transmission', based on five vital arguments, namely, active listening ("shravana"), embodied performance, the role of the expositor, multimodal literacy and textual fluidity, which indicate reciprocal and cyclical literacy instead of static and binary inclinations. The research objectives are to explore how the Bhagavat Katha and Ram Katha traditions exemplify a fluid dynamic where aurality, orality and textuality coexist and mutually reinforce each other. The study aims to contest linear and static models by highlighting the participatory, adaptive and recurrent nature of Indian oral storytelling traditions. The inquiry is guided by the following research question: How do the "Bhagavat Katha" and "Ram Katha" function as unique storytelling traditions that exemplify a recurrent and fluid dynamic in which aurality, orality and textuality coexist and mutually reinforce one another? Methodologically, the research is qualitative and exploratory, based on a synthesis of existing secondary sources and of recorded and documented performances. Educators, researchers and practitioners can integrate Katha's "shravana," participatory storytelling and performative activities into classrooms and pedagogies, fostering engagement, empathy, critical thinking and multimodal literacy in hypermedia societies. This study endeavours to highlight the fact that oral traditions such as "Katha" are not rudimentary crafts that are overridden by technology but rather find their significance in contemporary educational, performative and research-oriented contexts.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1507034
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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IllustrationInfo
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  Data: Fluid Texts and Living Voices: Reciprocal Dynamicity of Aurality, Orality and Textuality in 'Katha' Tradition
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Amrapali+Vyas%22">Amrapali Vyas</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9713-3380">0009-0005-9713-3380</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vaibhav+Shah%22">Vaibhav Shah</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0509-9826">0000-0002-0509-9826</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Literacy%22"><i>Literacy</i></searchLink>. 2026 60(2).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: 13
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Literacy%22">Literacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Literacy+Education%22">Literacy Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multiple+Literacies%22">Multiple Literacies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indigenous+Knowledge%22">Indigenous Knowledge</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Models%22">Models</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Listening%22">Listening</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Religion%22">Religion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+Modalities%22">Learning Modalities</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22India%22">India</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1111/lit.70026
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  Data: 1741-4350<br />1741-4369
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This study investigates "Katha" tradition, particularly "Ram Katha" and "Shrimad Bhagavat," as a dynamic epistemic paradigm that resists binary models of orality and literacy, particularly when visited in contrast to Ong's theory of communication and other theories of 'Great Divide' theses. The literature review explores Great Divide theories, New Literacy Studies (NLS) and the indigeneity of Indian narratology, revealing gaps in Western binary models that overlook Katha's performative, context-driven fluidity. Borrowing from the basic tenets of NLS, like multimodal literacy, hybridity and contextually relevant knowledge, this study proposes an indigenous 'Triadic Recursive Model of Narrative Transmission', based on five vital arguments, namely, active listening ("shravana"), embodied performance, the role of the expositor, multimodal literacy and textual fluidity, which indicate reciprocal and cyclical literacy instead of static and binary inclinations. The research objectives are to explore how the Bhagavat Katha and Ram Katha traditions exemplify a fluid dynamic where aurality, orality and textuality coexist and mutually reinforce each other. The study aims to contest linear and static models by highlighting the participatory, adaptive and recurrent nature of Indian oral storytelling traditions. The inquiry is guided by the following research question: How do the "Bhagavat Katha" and "Ram Katha" function as unique storytelling traditions that exemplify a recurrent and fluid dynamic in which aurality, orality and textuality coexist and mutually reinforce one another? Methodologically, the research is qualitative and exploratory, based on a synthesis of existing secondary sources and of recorded and documented performances. Educators, researchers and practitioners can integrate Katha's "shravana," participatory storytelling and performative activities into classrooms and pedagogies, fostering engagement, empathy, critical thinking and multimodal literacy in hypermedia societies. This study endeavours to highlight the fact that oral traditions such as "Katha" are not rudimentary crafts that are overridden by technology but rather find their significance in contemporary educational, performative and research-oriented contexts.
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Literacy
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      – SubjectFull: Literacy Education
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      – SubjectFull: Multiple Literacies
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      – SubjectFull: Models
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      – SubjectFull: Listening
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      – SubjectFull: Learning Modalities
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      – SubjectFull: India
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      – TitleFull: Fluid Texts and Living Voices: Reciprocal Dynamicity of Aurality, Orality and Textuality in 'Katha' Tradition
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