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Beyond Orality and Literacy: Letters and Organizational Communication

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Abstract

We draw on communication theories to study organizational communication from a literacy perspective. We suggest that the current debate over the capability of new media to foster the sharing and development of ideas and allow the expression of emotions, which presupposes face-to-face communication as the ideal form of communication, disappears once we switch the focus from the medium to the modality – written versus oral communication. An analysis of personal and organizational letters illustrates the role played by written communication throughout human history, in exchanging ideas and supporting emotional

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  • Fayard, Anne-Laure & Metiu, Anca, 2008. "Beyond Orality and Literacy: Letters and Organizational Communication," ESSEC Working Papers DR 08014, ESSEC Research Center, ESSEC Business School.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebg:essewp:dr-08014
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    Cited by:

    1. Metiu, Anca & Fayard, Anne-Laure, 2008. "Letters and Scientific Communities," ESSEC Working Papers DR 08016, ESSEC Research Center, ESSEC Business School.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Orality and Literacy; Online Interactions; Communicative Practices; Letters; Organizational Communication;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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