A method researchers might often employ in helping them to retrieve data is case studies. Case studies “refer to the collection of detailed and presentation of detailed information about a particular participant or small group, frequently including the accounts of subjects themselves.” Basically, researchers will put together scenarios or tests to see how participant(s) react. Now the most important part of the case study is the individual(s) who have volunteered to be the guinea pigs. Researchers select the participants based on a variety of methods falling under the umbrella term: multimodality. Multimodality is defined as “the integrated meaning making systems of electronic multimedia texts.” In laments terms, it is the use of several communication methods to understand writing. “Some common methods include interviews, protocol analyses, field studies, and participant-observations.” It is often encouraged that researchers use multimodality or several methods in their exploration of new data to have a more realistic description of their findings. Multimodality does not contribute to my view of writing. I view writing as an expression of thoughts communicated for a purpose. A writer to deliver a message formulates these thoughts. This message can come in the form of a book, text, tweet, and so on and so forth. I look at multimodality as the outside forces that effect the interpretation and layout of the writing. In my personal experience, I have just begun to write from the heart, as cliché as that sounds, and tend to focus on the design elements when I am finished. I will agree that with writing, linguistic design is important, but I also think it becomes more imperative when editing. The same I feel goes for spatial and audio design. When architects put designs together or composers create a tune, the elements of deign are already inherent in them. It is these elements of multimodality that I think assist in the conclusion by helping to refine the final product. I don’t think multimodality contribute to the process, especially of writing, because the process is the expression whereas these elements need an end result to make the meaning stronger.
In Writer/Designer, Arola, Sheppard and Ball state “multimodal describes how we combine multiple different ways of communicating in every day life” (1). To produce a successful text, writers must be able to use different modes alone and in combination with each other to communicate their ideas to others. Although each mode is a part of the overall message, it is the combination of modes that creates the full piece of communication. The New London Group introduced five modes of communication that may be presented in a multimodal text: linguistic, visual, aural, gestural and spatial. An example of multimodality given in the chapter is Twitter. The designers of Twitter chose the layout of the profile page. This layout draws on spatial, visual and linguistic modes of communication. It is almost impossible for a text not to use multiple modes at once. Different media use different combinations of modes that are good at doing different things. In some instances it may be better to use just a picture instead of unnecessary words. Each mode of communication has its own strengths and weaknesses in specific situations. In a project, a writer may only use a select few modes. “Multimodality gives writers additional tools for designing effective texts” (19). Writers can appeal to certain audiences by the modes of communication they use in their text.
Multimodality does contribute to my view of writing. Before, I use to believe text was just written words. However, text refers to communication as a whole (1). Texts can include visuals, sounds and movement. My view of writing is mostly in a public relations style. In PR, we use multimodality frequently. PSA’s, press kits, and PR campaigns use a variety of communication modes to get a message to an audience. Using multiple modes of communication adds variety and creativity to a text.
Multimodality is a combination of more than one means of communicating within a text. Few if any texts are not multimodal because humans often use multiple methods to interact with their audience via texts. A novel for example incorporates primarily the written word, which is the linguistic mode, however, the layout of a novel’s pages incorporate the spatial mode as well. A reader might infer from the size of the print and the spacing of the lines that a novel is a difficult or an easy read. The overall thickness of the book can also imply the difficulty of a text. I doubt that the Harry Potter series would be as popular as it is today if The Sorcerer’s Stone was as thick as The Order of the Phoenix. Fewer people would have picked up the novel up because it would appear thick, time-consuming, and spatially daunting. One can also argue that novels incorporate the visual, aural, and spatial elements because effective authors are able to create images and sounds within our heads.
Multimodality contributes to my view of writing by showing how different elements of a text can be intricately linked to create something more than just a written word piece. The idea of modes boils down ways of communicating to a basic explanation of why videos or images or written words are engaging to people. This allows me to ask questions about my own writing like “Can making my texts more multimodal can improve them?” Multimodality is also important to writing as different modes attract different people. Personally I often ignore most photographs and graphs within news articles. I would rather read the article than interpret a flashy graph, but for others the graph might be the most engaging part of the article. With this in mind, multimodality then becomes a way to expand a text’s audience, which is a valuable skill for every writer.
According to our text, Writer/Designer, multimodality is a combination of the two words “multiple” and “mode” and it “describes how we combine multiple different ways of communicating in everyday life.” The multiple different ways in which you can communicate is explained by the New London Group and their concept of multimodal literacies. The modes are as followed: spatial, gestural, aural, linguistic, and visual. If any text—“a piece of communication as a whole”—uses two or more of these modes then it is considered to be multimodal. Most texts have more than one mode even if at first that doesn’t seem to be the case. For example, a research paper may be thought to only have a linguistic mode but it also includes a spatial mode because of the spacing of the words in relation to each other and the margins.
To further understand how many texts already are multimodal without even realizing it one must understand what each mode actually includes. The linguistic mode suggests the written or spoken words of a text and how important the aspects of word choice, delivery and sentence structure is. Visual mode is anything that the readers are seeing such as the images and the color, layout, style, size, and perspective that they have. Aural mode is all about the sound whether it is music, sound effects or even silence. Spatial mode is the actual layout of a text and the aesthetics it has. Lastly, gestural mode considers the movement thorough facial expression, gestures and body language.
I absolutely believe that multimodality contributes to my view of writing simply because writing is always expressed through text. And text doesn’t necessarily just mean written word on a piece of paper. Since text can include a tee shirt, dictionary, or a meme, like described in Writer/Designer, I believe that multimodality is a natural thing that goes hand in hand with writing. For example, the textbook refers to a video interview on the Recovery.gov Web site as having all five of the modes. Whether it is obvious or not, intentional or not, multimodality is evidently shown in all forms of writing.
I think that multi-modality is the multiple ways in which we express language of a text. Communication and representation are not just about solely language, and multi-modality is about the variety of ways that are different from language. I do believe that multi-modality does in fact contribute to writing. I think that without multi-modality language could not advance and be prosperous. In order for a text to be effective I think the writer of which needs to look at the given situation and figure out which way is best, given more thought than just the language part. For example there is the different cultural effect to think of. In art history, you learn that there are much more that goes into representation than language. Art uses many visible aspects that contribute to representation that are not language. Art is big on symbolism and visual effects. Color can be used as both symbolism as well as can represent the mood that the creator wants to portray to its audience. Like the reading said, writing and speech tells the world but depiction shows the world. When speaking along the lines about the visual effects, we have media and image. Media is another example of portraying language in unique ways. Media often uses communication and representation through images. By using images an author can create a story much like readers do when they read a book and the author can then bring that idea to life in a movie. The author tells a story visually to communicate with its audience and represents his or her story through a portrayal using a variety of actors and actresses who can reenact the story. I think a main reason why multi-modality contributes to my definition of writing is because I believe that writing is so many different things and can be seen in a variety of forms so thats where multi-modality fits into my concept.
Multimodality is the use of various techniques (modes) in order to communicate. This is most obvious in commercials. Within commercials there is video, audio, and text. Having more than one mode of transmitting information makes something multimodal. The different modes are as follows: linguistic, which refers to things such as word choice, visual, which refers to layout and color, aural, which refers to sounds, spatial, which refers to arrangement, and gestural, which refers to gestures/expressions. All of these contribute to the overall effect the author is trying to create. Multimodality does not contribute so much to my view on writing, as it does to the message. If something is all neon and glitter of course it will catch my eye, but I of course won’t take whatever text it is associated with seriously, it probably isn’t even meant to be taken seriously if there is glitter and neon. When there is a clean background with neat font, I am more inclined to find writing more important. Also when something is easy to read without any frills or distractions I am more likely to remember it because I took the time to read it while also not having simply skimmed over what was written on the screen or page. Though something may be more pleasing to the eye with color and images that accompany it, it is less likely that I will have analyzed the text thus not having taken in the message it was trying to convey. Multimodality has its place, but in an academic setting has less of an impact as far as I am concerned.
Although we don't typically think about it, there are plenty of features that define a piece of writing apart from the text itself - namely, visuals, sound, spatial arrangement, and body language (if the text is spoken). The name for communication using more than one of these methods is "multimodality." Although multimodal texts have been created throughout history, understanding multimodality, in my opinion, has become increasingly important with the rise of visual culture through the internet.
I will admit, initially I felt some skepticism concerning the idea that writing could involve other features besides text. After all, my definition of writing is, "The use of text or symbols to express thoughts and/or emotions." However, after thinking it over, I came to agree with the assertion made in "Writer/Designer" that multimodality is a necessary feature of any piece of writing. At first I thought, What if an author distributed their work as an eBook and the reader could alter the font and other aspects of its appearance in whatever way he or she wanted? However, wouldn't this simply make the reader the person who adds the finalizing multimodal features to the text? Also, sometimes visuals can be enormously important. For instance, we still consider a children's author, like Maurice Sendak, a writer even though his pictures often explained more about the situations in the narrative than his text did. Regardless, his writing certainly could not have achieved its fame without the memorable illustrations.
The conclusion I've finally come to is that while not all writing involves a large amount of multimodal communication, it always contains some, and that while writing is not limited to text, text is a necessary component of a piece for it to be considered "writing."
According to Writer/Designer, multimodality is the use of multiple modes of communication within media and everyday life. Multimodality encompasses five different modes of communication, linguistic, visual, aural, gestural and spatial. The combination of each of these modes effects the way a reader interprets the message being presented. For example, social media websites most often combine the linguistic, visual and spatial modes. Social websites like Twitter and Facebook presents the linguistic mode in a generally short format with informal word choice. This presentation of linguistic mode helps determine spatial mode of websites. Depending on how long or short the main text is, the website will be organized accordingly. Visual mode is extremely important on websites, the layout of text and photos can determine how appealing a page is to viewers and whether or not they’ll read it.
I do believe that multimodality contributes to my view of writing. With writing becoming more prominent on the internet, it is important to realize that text is only one part of the package. If a webpage is not visually appealing (in terms of space and layout), many people may turn away and find something else to view. Although text is usually the key part of a message, photos, sounds, layout and organization can play a major role in whether or not people will completely understand what is being communicated.
Multimodality is the combination of “tools for designing effective texts” (19). It gives a writer a variety of creative opportunities to make his/her writing stand out. Especially with the growth and advancement of the Internet and other digital technologies, modes and media provide endless ways for an average person to advertise their work. Chapter 1 in Writer/Designer outlined the five modes of communication and throughout the chapter these modes were used. Basically, the writers demonstrated multimodality to explain the definition of the word. For linguistic, the writers used a chart of data. For visual the authors used a screenshot of a Twitter account. For aural they provided a link to a video. For spatial a pamphlet was used to explain special importance. And for gestural mode, a link was provided of Obama’s inaugural speech. Granted, I do have the eText version of the book, so multimodality was easily accessed. Chapter 1 of the eText version of Writer/Designer is an example of how multimodality is practiced all the time.
Multimodality does contribute to my view of writing, because as chapter one says, as a writer you must take into account that “not every reader will be exactly the same.” As a PR major (in addition to EWM) the audience is critical in this field, because everything a PR practitioner does is directed towards an audience/public. PR practitioners must take into account all possible connotations of modes of communication. Much of the work of PR people is to remedy a crisis, so it is critical to know the audience and know all the potential effects mode and media used to address the crisis.
Additionally, ch.1 opened my eyes to how every mode is important. I hadn’t really thought about how aural elements affect me, especially as a consumer. The authors’ example of a simple TV ad emphasizes the how aural mode is important in persuading a consumer to buy a product and how it’s important to reach a particular audience. Music from the ‘50s would not catch the attention of a sixteen year old like a Taylor Swift song would.
Writer/Design defines multimodality as the way we combine multiple different ways of communicating in everyday life. Multimodality can include projects such as dissertations, biology posters, and even popular Internet memes. All texts are considered multimodal as long as there are multiple modes of communication. Each mode plays a role in making the text stand out more to the audience, creating a full piece of communication. Ultimately, each mode used is dependent on which combination will provide the clearest description, taking into consideration the strengths and weaknesses (affordances) each mode contains. For example, the textbook refers to a situation where a picture more accurately conveys information than a written description. In this example, the image was used to perfectly depict a dog’s sad and adorable state of mind, as his owner is about to leave on a trip.
According to the New London Group, there are five modes of communication that make up a Multimodal Text. These include: linguistic, visual, aural, gestural, and spatial modes. The linguistic mode utilizes language while the visual mode uses images and other characteristics such as color, layout, and style. Furthermore, the aural mode focuses on sounds such as music, tone, and effects to capture an audience’s attention, while the spatial mode makes use of physical arrangement, organization, and proximity between people and objects. Lastly, the Gestural mode refers to the meaning of movements such as hand gestures, body language, and facial expressions. These five modes work to help the reader to understand meaning. Thus, multimodality provides writers with additional tools for designing effective texts.
Multimodality indeed contributes to my writing. Written text is not enough anymore to communicate. You must take into consideration what mode works best to depict the subject of the text to the preferred audience. Typically as I am publishing something online, or telling a story, I tend to use multiple modes to get my point across. Whether publishing pictures on Facebook with captions or including videos with my PowerPoint presentations, multimodality must be utilized to intrigue bigger audiences. To stand out, the audience has to be drawn in by the modes of communication, allowing them to fully absorb the material of the writer. After reading this text, I now see writing with a new mindset. With each new work that I write, I will examine which modes of communication suit it best in order to capture my target audience.
Twitter feeds, magazine layouts, posters, memes, even television ads rely on the concept of multimodality. In short the concept means combining various communications methods in order to influence the audience. Text is no longer confined to written words, but can also include sounds, gestures, images, and spatial organization. The digital aged has sparked new opportunities for media in terms of multimodality. Take Instagram for example. People can post pictures that illicit messages in themselves or they can even caption the picture in words to describe the image beyond what’s seen in the frame. Also, users can post videos so that the audience can watch or relive a specific moment as if they were there. Each element: visuals, sounds, gestures (scrolling), or words, each play a purpose in media communication and it’s the writer’s job to be able to utilize them effectively. As mentioned in Writer/Designer chapter 1, television advertisers plan out each step from the gender of the announcer, to the special effects, and even the position of the price of the object in order to make their product desired (4). Whether we notice it or choose to ignore it, multimodality has become a popular presence in our increasingly digital lives. I believe that multimodality does contribute to my view of writing and even how I write. I believe that consumers or people in general are becoming more of a visual or aesthetic audience. If a webpage isn’t laid out in a manner that seems organized or pleasing, I tend to navigate away. Sometimes words aren’t enough to hold onto an audience, especially in the digital realm where there are more elements to take into consideration. I think that’s why I tend to notice that my writing changes over platforms. While I’m sitting here typing on Microsoft I might ramble for a few sentences before getting to my point. I’m writing academically not personally. If I then choose to switch to twitter I might just post a picture to communicate a message, or use simplistic hashtags to say what I mean. In short I guess I consider my medium before the message.
Multimodality is the combination of multiple modes of communication to create a message. This can be seen in the format of the YouTube video, a medium that is inherently multimodal; it’s an amalgamation of text (e.g. the title, description), audio (music, vocals), visual elements (the colors of the video, what is being presented in the frame), etc. It is using various means of communication to speak to the viewer. These means of communication are further elaborated on in “Writer/Designer” by the New London Group, which has devised five modes of communication: linguistics, visual, aural, gestural, and spatial. Anytime two or more of these modes of communication are working in tandem, that text is considered multimodal. Some would even argue that ALL text is multimodal, for example a research paper. Even when a research paper is just bare bones, text on a paper, it is using both the linguistic mode (words) and the spatial mode (the layout/format of the page). While the linguistic elements comprise the main message of the research paper, it’s the spatial elements that inform the reader that “this is an academic work”; it’s telling the reader to interact with it in a certain way.
Multimodality does not alter my view of writing, but rather equips me with a means of expressing the breadth and nuances of writing – how writing, as I see it, encompasses more than just the written word. Multimodality serves as a basis of understanding how the different elements/layers of a text interact and affect the message that is being put forth.
Multimodality is the synthesis of a text from more than one mode of communication. In our generation I feel like multimodal writing has the most power. Blogs, social media, internet news sites, video games, television, and movies are all extremely multimodal and they are the most consumed medias at this time. I believe that reason is because they are so multifaceted and that makes them more appealing. I would like to write comic book scripts and if I get good enough at art, draw my own comics. For me, multimodality is key to writing graphic media because you have to create a text in which the words and the art are not interfering with each other. Even when writing only in print I believe that thinking about multimodality is very constructive because you can better anticipate how a reader imagines your work.
Multimodality is a way of communicating by combining multiple and different ways to explain one’s idea. This is not limited to writing; it includes a total of five modes. The first is the linguistic mode which focuses on the particular use of words and their delivery. Second is the visual mode or presentation and characteristics visible to an audience (color, style, size). Third is the aural mode. The aural mode has to do with the sound, or lack of sound, that is communicated to express a message. The spatial mode is similar to the visual mode because this mode, too, focuses on the physical arrangement and organization. Lastly, the gestural mode reflects the feelings that are being communicated. Body language and facial expressions are gestural modes that demonstrate feelings.
A multimodality is basically anything from a twitter feed or a billboard to a commercial or flyer. It is anything that is used for the purpose of communication; a way to express a message to an audience.
Multimodality contributes to my view of writing by expanding what I think writing is. Multimodality allows for writing to go beyond a basic essay or novel. Even small bursts of words are important types of writing because they have the possibility of being impactful and necessary. Billboards, for example, are able to get the point across in very few words. Billboards use words (linguistic mode), pictures (visual mode), placement (spatial mode) and in some cases faces (gestural mode) to reach an audience.
Multimodality allows for a broad audience to be targeted quickly and all through the same way. Reactions may not be the same but a reaction shows that someone has been impacted in some way. Writing isn’t enough anymore. For me, multimodality is almost essential to reach and affect a broad audience.
Multimodality with specific regard to texts and communication deals with the numerous forms of potential communication that are at play in any given text. Text here is taken broadly to mean any communicative thing, not just literal textual documents. According to Arola, Sheppard and Ball in Writer/Designer, even regular academic plain-text research papers are multimodal, because though they are composed primarily of written text, they may also include images or graphs, and the structure of the margins can be informative to the reader and therefore communicative. Multimodality, by its definition in Writer/Designer, seems to contribute to any form of writing that is purposefully communicative. As it pertains to me, I see the merit in thinking of writing as a multidimensional activity that can be augmented by employment of alternate modes, like those mentioned in the graph in figure 1.6 (visual, aural, spatial, gestural). I do not, however, tend towards focusing on these factors when I actually write. Certainly I see the meaning of the concept of multimodality, and its necessity of use in practice, but as far as my experiences with writing have thus far gone, I have never occupied myself with concerns about presentation of the written words (save for MLA-formatting essays for school). I have tended often to think that my words would speak for themselves when read, and matters of multimodal presentation would only serve to either clarify or obfuscate that message.
Multimodality is a combination of communicative techniques to help explain a person’s thoughts and ideas. There are five main modes of communication: linguistic, visual, aural, spatial and gestural. Text is no longer limited to words, and these modes allow for a more expressive range of communication. The first mode mentioned was the linguistic mode. This mode is the use of language, whether it is written or spoken. It includes how the words are organized or arranged, as well as how they are developed and delivered (Arola, Ball and Sheppard, 5). Visual mode includes color, layout, style, size and perspective. It plays a major part in creating appealing advertisements for billboards, television, websites and stores (6). Aural mode, the third mode mentioned, incorporates all sorts of sounds. The sounds range from music to background noise, and everything in between. Speeches, television programs, sound effects online and radio shows all rely on the aural mode to efficiently communicate with their audiences (8). Spatial mode deals with how text looks. It involves arrangement, organization and proximity, and aims to make webpages, stores, classrooms and more attractive and useful to the reader (10). Last but not least, “Writer/Designer” mentions the gestural mode. It makes use of all kinds of body language as well as the interaction between two people. An example of this would be the facial expressions, movements and reactions of two people communicating with one another via video chat online.
Multimodality makes the world of text more customizable. It is easier for writers to express themselves in a way that entices a larger audience. The five modes mentioned above do contribute to my view of writing. Writers are never limited to text on paper. We can use whatever is available to us to make our text invite a specific audience to read our work, as well as pique the interest of those who might not have been interested in our work otherwise.
According to Writer/Designer, the word multimodal ‘describes how we combine multiple ways of communicating in everyday life’. If we consider multimodality while defining a text, all sorts of things can qualify, from performance art to epics to posters; the key is that the text communicate something to an audience, even if that something is open to very loose interpretation. According to the New London Group, there are five modes of communication—linguistic, visual, aural, gestural, and spatial. The combination of modes can alter the message; for instance, a picture of a raccoon clothed as a human (visual) is far less open to interpretation if it is accompanied by a caption (linguistic) referencing certain Marvel characters. In a more common example, the way that two actors or speakers are arranged and are interacting (spatial and gestural) on a screen or stage adds a layer of meaning to the dialogue they are performing (aural and linguistic). This concept does fit well with my view of text, and though I’ve never seen the modes of communication separated into these categories, I think that they’re as efficient and comprehensive as anyone could hope to come up with, and I’ll be keeping them in mind throughout my course of study. I did consider for a time whether some of the categories could be condensed, such as gestural and spatial into the heading of visual, but upon further reflection I can see why it may be simpler to differentiate between these, if just to be more specific when dissecting a text for interpretation.
In Writer/Designer, multimodal is defined as “a mash-up of multiple and mode” and “describes how we combine multiple different ways of communication in everyday life” (1). This is, of course, a rather straightforward/self-explanatory definition of what multimodality is, however; it is worth taking a closer look at and expanding this definition. To begin with, there are the “Five Modes of Communication”. In order for something to be considered multimodal, it must contain at least two of the following modes. The first mode, linguistic, “refers to the use of language, which usually means written or spoken words” (5). This mode is likely the mode in which most of us have the most experience. Following in terms of expected experience, the second mode is visual. As one might expect, the visual mode “refers to the use of images and other characteristics that readers see” (6). As an admitted visual learner, this mode is my personal favorite. Being able to see information as a picture or some kind of image is preferable to pure writing. Third, we got the aural mode, which “focuses on sound” (8). As far as my own preferences, I thoroughly enjoy the aural mode. I am obsessed with music and notice it in everything; nowadays, its good music that grabs your attention in commercials and other advertisements. Fourth is spatial mode, which is concerned with the manner in which items are arranged. This mode is especially relevant nowadays due to the increase in Internet use. Of course the Internet includes all of the modes mentioned above, but spatial is particularly prevalent. For example, the manner in which web pages are arranged to be easily navigated is the spatial mode. And last but not least is the gestural mode. Based on the name of this mode, it should be easy to infer that it has to do with gestures, IE body language. This mode is prevalent most in videos of people. Their facial expressions, body language, and hand gestures are all included in the gestural mode. So, now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I’d like to answer the question presented in the prompt with another question: how could multimodality not contribute to your view of writing? Multimodality is as old as writing itself. There were cave paintings first, then words. And after the introduction of words, it is not as if painting went extinct. Hell, even if you are some snob who thinks the written word is all there should ever be, the formatting of those words falls under the spatial mode, and the words themselves fall under linguistic. Boom, there are two modes for you. Based on what I read and understood from the book, I feel as if it’s impossible for writing not to multimodal. But hey, that’s just my two cents.
Multimodality, as described by Writer/Designer is the combination of multiple modes (with modes being defined as forms of communication). Arola, Sheppard, and Ball provide five different modes that have been defined by the New London Group (4). The five different mode types are linguistic, visual, aural, spatial, and gestural. Any combination of these types of texts forms a multimodal text. Linguistic modes refer to languages either written or spoken, and encompass choices in word, deliver, organization, and development of ideas. Visual mode refers to images, color, layout, style, size, and perspective. Aural mode focuses on sounds, such as soundtracks in movies, volume, ton of voice, silence, and sound effects. Spatial mode refers entirely to physical arrangement, organization, and proximity (placement). Finally, gestural mode refers to movement such as body language and facial expressions. Multimodality is a term that can be applied to any text with two or more of these modes.
Multimodality absolutely contributes to my view of writing in that I define writing as the act of communicating. The concept of multimodality illustrates that there is significantly more to writing than just transcribing words onto paper, and that there is significance in all choices regarding the five different modes. Personally, I feel that multimodality was a concept engraved in my personal definition of writing before I knew exactly what it was, because I think frequently, as the book points out, that linguistic modes are not always the most important (5). A prime example of this is the pecha kucha, where the linguistic and aural modes support the visual.
The format of a text can send all different kinds of messages about the content of the text, this is why understanding multimodality is so important to any writer. Multimodality is categorized into five different modes of communication; audio design, linguistic design, spatial design, visual design, and gestural design. All of the modes have a different effect on a work and almost every text uses multiple modes. These are what define the writing as a whole. Without linguistic designs, the writing could be choppy and difficult to understand. Without the visual design, it could be hard to imagine what the writer is saying. The example of Twitter used in the book, Writer/Designer, Arola, Sheppard and Ball state, was very effective in helping the understanding of multimodality. The layout of Twitter perfectly displays multiple modes of communication. Twitter’s spatial design helps the reader’s attention be drawn directly to the text at hand. The linguistic design helps the reader easily identify the writer’s purpose. As well as the visual design helps the writer further their point. All of these modes rely on each other to give the reader the full effect and that is why we have a need for multimodality. I believe that the definition of writing is transforming thoughts into something concrete, therefore multimodality only contributes more to my definition and view of writing. It reminds me that there are numerous elements at hand that contribute to making a text as clear and genius as it deserves to be. If a text has no linguistic, spatial, visual, gestural, or audio design then it may result in a lack of understanding in the eyes of the reader. I believe that if the writer chooses to use multiple modes of technology to assist his message then it is a definite part of the writing process.
“Multimodal describes how we combine multiple different ways of communicating in everyday life.” (writer/designer, pg. 1) For example if you make a poster using a visual background and text, this is multimodal. The New London Group defines multimodal text in five different modes: linguistic, visual, aural, spatial, and gestural. Depending on what you are communicating and how, each of these can play the most important role.
Linguistic mode is probably the most common in our minds, meaning the mode referring to the language you use in spoken and written word. (pg.5) Visual mode refers to the use of images and other characteristics that readers see (pg.6), this can be by color, layout, style etc. Aural mode refers to sound (pg.8), whether a commercial be silent or filled with metal music, it will make a communication difference. The spatial mode is about physical arrangement and organization (pg. 10), the reader will focus in more on a certain text depending on where it is placed. Lastly there is the gestural mode, referring to the way movement creates meaning (pg. 12). For example, while someone is telling you a story, if they hug the other person first, you know the relationship is different than if they were to shake their hand.
This knowledge does contribute to my view of writing, because although I was aware of the different factors coming into play in commercials, posters etc., I didn’t really think of those medias as “writing”. Writing existed to me as the basic draft of writing on a computer or piece of paper with nothing surrounding it. The color of the writing was as chosen by your pen, pencil, or default computer text; the writing was the ideas that came out in word form. If you were to look at The Five Modes of Communication, you could say I thought of writing as only linguistic. I definitely thought about all the other modes playing into our world and perception today, but not how much they can effect small texts I think I am only reading for linguistic sake.
The word multimodal, according to the textbook, refers to a text that incorporates multiple forms of communication for a common purpose or usage. These different ways of communicating are called modes. A text can exhibit any of the five modes of communication which include linguistic mode, visual mode, aural mode, spatial mode, and gestural mode. Linguistic mode refers to the choice and usage of language in the form of written or spoken words. Visual mode describes the visual characteristics of a text such as layout, color, shape, style, etc. Aural mode is centered on sound and acoustics. This can include the presence or absence of any music or sound effects, tone, volume, or inflection. Spatial mode refers to the physical organization and arrangement in a text as well as the proximity between objects. Finally, gestural mode is all about movement and, self-explicitly, gestures. These can include, hand motions, facial expressions, interaction from person to person and physical communication through body language. The idea of multimodality defines a piece as communicating using two or more of these modes at once. I suppose this idea has affected the way I go about and think about writing. Though I have never used or learned about the term “multimodality” before, I think this concept is one that I have taken note of without realizing it. There are so many different things to consider when putting together a work of any kind. It is extremely important to carefully construct a composition keeping, not only what you want to communicate in mind, but also remembering your audience and their possible reaction to it. To do this, modes are very important. In fact, defining them as five separate focuses of composition can help a writer determine what to emphasize in order to effectively communicate what was intended.
A method researchers might often employ in helping them to retrieve data is case studies. Case studies “refer to the collection of detailed and presentation of detailed information about a particular participant or small group, frequently including the accounts of subjects themselves.” Basically, researchers will put together scenarios or tests to see how participant(s) react. Now the most important part of the case study is the individual(s) who have volunteered to be the guinea pigs. Researchers select the participants based on a variety of methods falling under the umbrella term: multimodality. Multimodality is defined as “the integrated meaning making systems of electronic multimedia texts.” In laments terms, it is the use of several communication methods to understand writing. “Some common methods include interviews, protocol analyses, field studies, and participant-observations.” It is often encouraged that researchers use multimodality or several methods in their exploration of new data to have a more realistic description of their findings.
ReplyDeleteMultimodality does not contribute to my view of writing. I view writing as an expression of thoughts communicated for a purpose. A writer to deliver a message formulates these thoughts. This message can come in the form of a book, text, tweet, and so on and so forth. I look at multimodality as the outside forces that effect the interpretation and layout of the writing. In my personal experience, I have just begun to write from the heart, as cliché as that sounds, and tend to focus on the design elements when I am finished. I will agree that with writing, linguistic design is important, but I also think it becomes more imperative when editing. The same I feel goes for spatial and audio design. When architects put designs together or composers create a tune, the elements of deign are already inherent in them. It is these elements of multimodality that I think assist in the conclusion by helping to refine the final product. I don’t think multimodality contribute to the process, especially of writing, because the process is the expression whereas these elements need an end result to make the meaning stronger.
In Writer/Designer, Arola, Sheppard and Ball state “multimodal describes how we combine multiple different ways of communicating in every day life” (1). To produce a successful text, writers must be able to use different modes alone and in combination with each other to communicate their ideas to others. Although each mode is a part of the overall message, it is the combination of modes that creates the full piece of communication. The New London Group introduced five modes of communication that may be presented in a multimodal text: linguistic, visual, aural, gestural and spatial. An example of multimodality given in the chapter is Twitter. The designers of Twitter chose the layout of the profile page. This layout draws on spatial, visual and linguistic modes of communication. It is almost impossible for a text not to use multiple modes at once. Different media use different combinations of modes that are good at doing different things. In some instances it may be better to use just a picture instead of unnecessary words. Each mode of communication has its own strengths and weaknesses in specific situations. In a project, a writer may only use a select few modes. “Multimodality gives writers additional tools for designing effective texts” (19). Writers can appeal to certain audiences by the modes of communication they use in their text.
ReplyDeleteMultimodality does contribute to my view of writing. Before, I use to believe text was just written words. However, text refers to communication as a whole (1). Texts can include visuals, sounds and movement. My view of writing is mostly in a public relations style. In PR, we use multimodality frequently. PSA’s, press kits, and PR campaigns use a variety of communication modes to get a message to an audience. Using multiple modes of communication adds variety and creativity to a text.
Multimodality is a combination of more than one means of communicating within a text. Few if any texts are not multimodal because humans often use multiple methods to interact with their audience via texts. A novel for example incorporates primarily the written word, which is the linguistic mode, however, the layout of a novel’s pages incorporate the spatial mode as well. A reader might infer from the size of the print and the spacing of the lines that a novel is a difficult or an easy read. The overall thickness of the book can also imply the difficulty of a text. I doubt that the Harry Potter series would be as popular as it is today if The Sorcerer’s Stone was as thick as The Order of the Phoenix. Fewer people would have picked up the novel up because it would appear thick, time-consuming, and spatially daunting. One can also argue that novels incorporate the visual, aural, and spatial elements because effective authors are able to create images and sounds within our heads.
ReplyDeleteMultimodality contributes to my view of writing by showing how different elements of a text can be intricately linked to create something more than just a written word piece. The idea of modes boils down ways of communicating to a basic explanation of why videos or images or written words are engaging to people. This allows me to ask questions about my own writing like “Can making my texts more multimodal can improve them?” Multimodality is also important to writing as different modes attract different people. Personally I often ignore most photographs and graphs within news articles. I would rather read the article than interpret a flashy graph, but for others the graph might be the most engaging part of the article. With this in mind, multimodality then becomes a way to expand a text’s audience, which is a valuable skill for every writer.
According to our text, Writer/Designer, multimodality is a combination of the two words “multiple” and “mode” and it “describes how we combine multiple different ways of communicating in everyday life.” The multiple different ways in which you can communicate is explained by the New London Group and their concept of multimodal literacies. The modes are as followed: spatial, gestural, aural, linguistic, and visual. If any text—“a piece of communication as a whole”—uses two or more of these modes then it is considered to be multimodal. Most texts have more than one mode even if at first that doesn’t seem to be the case. For example, a research paper may be thought to only have a linguistic mode but it also includes a spatial mode because of the spacing of the words in relation to each other and the margins.
ReplyDeleteTo further understand how many texts already are multimodal without even realizing it one must understand what each mode actually includes. The linguistic mode suggests the written or spoken words of a text and how important the aspects of word choice, delivery and sentence structure is. Visual mode is anything that the readers are seeing such as the images and the color, layout, style, size, and perspective that they have. Aural mode is all about the sound whether it is music, sound effects or even silence. Spatial mode is the actual layout of a text and the aesthetics it has. Lastly, gestural mode considers the movement thorough facial expression, gestures and body language.
I absolutely believe that multimodality contributes to my view of writing simply because writing is always expressed through text. And text doesn’t necessarily just mean written word on a piece of paper. Since text can include a tee shirt, dictionary, or a meme, like described in Writer/Designer, I believe that multimodality is a natural thing that goes hand in hand with writing. For example, the textbook refers to a video interview on the Recovery.gov Web site as having all five of the modes. Whether it is obvious or not, intentional or not, multimodality is evidently shown in all forms of writing.
I think that multi-modality is the multiple ways in which we express language of a text. Communication and representation are not just about solely language, and multi-modality is about the variety of ways that are different from language. I do believe that multi-modality does in fact contribute to writing. I think that without multi-modality language could not advance and be prosperous. In order for a text to be effective I think the writer of which needs to look at the given situation and figure out which way is best, given more thought than just the language part. For example there is the different cultural effect to think of. In art history, you learn that there are much more that goes into representation than language. Art uses many visible aspects that contribute to representation that are not language. Art is big on symbolism and visual effects. Color can be used as both symbolism as well as can represent the mood that the creator wants to portray to its audience. Like the reading said, writing and speech tells the world but depiction shows the world. When speaking along the lines about the visual effects, we have media and image. Media is another example of portraying language in unique ways. Media often uses communication and representation through images. By using images an author can create a story much like readers do when they read a book and the author can then bring that idea to life in a movie. The author tells a story visually to communicate with its audience and represents his or her story through a portrayal using a variety of actors and actresses who can reenact the story. I think a main reason why multi-modality contributes to my definition of writing is because I believe that writing is so many different things and can be seen in a variety of forms so thats where multi-modality fits into my concept.
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ReplyDeleteMultimodality is the use of various techniques (modes) in order to communicate. This is most obvious in commercials. Within commercials there is video, audio, and text. Having more than one mode of transmitting information makes something multimodal. The different modes are as follows: linguistic, which refers to things such as word choice, visual, which refers to layout and color, aural, which refers to sounds, spatial, which refers to arrangement, and gestural, which refers to gestures/expressions. All of these contribute to the overall effect the author is trying to create.
ReplyDeleteMultimodality does not contribute so much to my view on writing, as it does to the message. If something is all neon and glitter of course it will catch my eye, but I of course won’t take whatever text it is associated with seriously, it probably isn’t even meant to be taken seriously if there is glitter and neon. When there is a clean background with neat font, I am more inclined to find writing more important. Also when something is easy to read without any frills or distractions I am more likely to remember it because I took the time to read it while also not having simply skimmed over what was written on the screen or page. Though something may be more pleasing to the eye with color and images that accompany it, it is less likely that I will have analyzed the text thus not having taken in the message it was trying to convey. Multimodality has its place, but in an academic setting has less of an impact as far as I am concerned.
Although we don't typically think about it, there are plenty of features that define a piece of writing apart from the text itself - namely, visuals, sound, spatial arrangement, and body language (if the text is spoken). The name for communication using more than one of these methods is "multimodality." Although multimodal texts have been created throughout history, understanding multimodality, in my opinion, has become increasingly important with the rise of visual culture through the internet.
ReplyDeleteI will admit, initially I felt some skepticism concerning the idea that writing could involve other features besides text. After all, my definition of writing is, "The use of text or symbols to express thoughts and/or emotions." However, after thinking it over, I came to agree with the assertion made in "Writer/Designer" that multimodality is a necessary feature of any piece of writing. At first I thought, What if an author distributed their work as an eBook and the reader could alter the font and other aspects of its appearance in whatever way he or she wanted? However, wouldn't this simply make the reader the person who adds the finalizing multimodal features to the text? Also, sometimes visuals can be enormously important. For instance, we still consider a children's author, like Maurice Sendak, a writer even though his pictures often explained more about the situations in the narrative than his text did. Regardless, his writing certainly could not have achieved its fame without the memorable illustrations.
The conclusion I've finally come to is that while not all writing involves a large amount of multimodal communication, it always contains some, and that while writing is not limited to text, text is a necessary component of a piece for it to be considered "writing."
According to Writer/Designer, multimodality is the use of multiple modes of communication within media and everyday life. Multimodality encompasses five different modes of communication, linguistic, visual, aural, gestural and spatial. The combination of each of these modes effects the way a reader interprets the message being presented. For example, social media websites most often combine the linguistic, visual and spatial modes. Social websites like Twitter and Facebook presents the linguistic mode in a generally short format with informal word choice. This presentation of linguistic mode helps determine spatial mode of websites. Depending on how long or short the main text is, the website will be organized accordingly. Visual mode is extremely important on websites, the layout of text and photos can determine how appealing a page is to viewers and whether or not they’ll read it.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that multimodality contributes to my view of writing. With writing becoming more prominent on the internet, it is important to realize that text is only one part of the package. If a webpage is not visually appealing (in terms of space and layout), many people may turn away and find something else to view. Although text is usually the key part of a message, photos, sounds, layout and organization can play a major role in whether or not people will completely understand what is being communicated.
Multimodality is the combination of “tools for designing effective texts” (19). It gives a writer a variety of creative opportunities to make his/her writing stand out. Especially with the growth and advancement of the Internet and other digital technologies, modes and media provide endless ways for an average person to advertise their work. Chapter 1 in Writer/Designer outlined the five modes of communication and throughout the chapter these modes were used. Basically, the writers demonstrated multimodality to explain the definition of the word. For linguistic, the writers used a chart of data. For visual the authors used a screenshot of a Twitter account. For aural they provided a link to a video. For spatial a pamphlet was used to explain special importance. And for gestural mode, a link was provided of Obama’s inaugural speech. Granted, I do have the eText version of the book, so multimodality was easily accessed. Chapter 1 of the eText version of Writer/Designer is an example of how multimodality is practiced all the time.
ReplyDeleteMultimodality does contribute to my view of writing, because as chapter one says, as a writer you must take into account that “not every reader will be exactly the same.” As a PR major (in addition to EWM) the audience is critical in this field, because everything a PR practitioner does is directed towards an audience/public. PR practitioners must take into account all possible connotations of modes of communication. Much of the work of PR people is to remedy a crisis, so it is critical to know the audience and know all the potential effects mode and media used to address the crisis.
Additionally, ch.1 opened my eyes to how every mode is important. I hadn’t really thought about how aural elements affect me, especially as a consumer. The authors’ example of a simple TV ad emphasizes the how aural mode is important in persuading a consumer to buy a product and how it’s important to reach a particular audience. Music from the ‘50s would not catch the attention of a sixteen year old like a Taylor Swift song would.
Writer/Design defines multimodality as the way we combine multiple different ways of communicating in everyday life. Multimodality can include projects such as dissertations, biology posters, and even popular Internet memes. All texts are considered multimodal as long as there are multiple modes of communication. Each mode plays a role in making the text stand out more to the audience, creating a full piece of communication. Ultimately, each mode used is dependent on which combination will provide the clearest description, taking into consideration the strengths and weaknesses (affordances) each mode contains. For example, the textbook refers to a situation where a picture more accurately conveys information than a written description. In this example, the image was used to perfectly depict a dog’s sad and adorable state of mind, as his owner is about to leave on a trip.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the New London Group, there are five modes of communication that make up a Multimodal Text. These include: linguistic, visual, aural, gestural, and spatial modes. The linguistic mode utilizes language while the visual mode uses images and other characteristics such as color, layout, and style. Furthermore, the aural mode focuses on sounds such as music, tone, and effects to capture an audience’s attention, while the spatial mode makes use of physical arrangement, organization, and proximity between people and objects. Lastly, the Gestural mode refers to the meaning of movements such as hand gestures, body language, and facial expressions. These five modes work to help the reader to understand meaning. Thus, multimodality provides writers with additional tools for designing effective texts.
Multimodality indeed contributes to my writing. Written text is not enough anymore to communicate. You must take into consideration what mode works best to depict the subject of the text to the preferred audience. Typically as I am publishing something online, or telling a story, I tend to use multiple modes to get my point across. Whether publishing pictures on Facebook with captions or including videos with my PowerPoint presentations, multimodality must be utilized to intrigue bigger audiences. To stand out, the audience has to be drawn in by the modes of communication, allowing them to fully absorb the material of the writer. After reading this text, I now see writing with a new mindset. With each new work that I write, I will examine which modes of communication suit it best in order to capture my target audience.
Twitter feeds, magazine layouts, posters, memes, even television ads rely on the concept of multimodality. In short the concept means combining various communications methods in order to influence the audience. Text is no longer confined to written words, but can also include sounds, gestures, images, and spatial organization. The digital aged has sparked new opportunities for media in terms of multimodality. Take Instagram for example. People can post pictures that illicit messages in themselves or they can even caption the picture in words to describe the image beyond what’s seen in the frame. Also, users can post videos so that the audience can watch or relive a specific moment as if they were there. Each element: visuals, sounds, gestures (scrolling), or words, each play a purpose in media communication and it’s the writer’s job to be able to utilize them effectively. As mentioned in Writer/Designer chapter 1, television advertisers plan out each step from the gender of the announcer, to the special effects, and even the position of the price of the object in order to make their product desired (4). Whether we notice it or choose to ignore it, multimodality has become a popular presence in our increasingly digital lives.
ReplyDeleteI believe that multimodality does contribute to my view of writing and even how I write. I believe that consumers or people in general are becoming more of a visual or aesthetic audience. If a webpage isn’t laid out in a manner that seems organized or pleasing, I tend to navigate away. Sometimes words aren’t enough to hold onto an audience, especially in the digital realm where there are more elements to take into consideration. I think that’s why I tend to notice that my writing changes over platforms. While I’m sitting here typing on Microsoft I might ramble for a few sentences before getting to my point. I’m writing academically not personally. If I then choose to switch to twitter I might just post a picture to communicate a message, or use simplistic hashtags to say what I mean. In short I guess I consider my medium before the message.
Multimodality is the combination of multiple modes of communication to create a message. This can be seen in the format of the YouTube video, a medium that is inherently multimodal; it’s an amalgamation of text (e.g. the title, description), audio (music, vocals), visual elements (the colors of the video, what is being presented in the frame), etc. It is using various means of communication to speak to the viewer. These means of communication are further elaborated on in “Writer/Designer” by the New London Group, which has devised five modes of communication: linguistics, visual, aural, gestural, and spatial. Anytime two or more of these modes of communication are working in tandem, that text is considered multimodal. Some would even argue that ALL text is multimodal, for example a research paper. Even when a research paper is just bare bones, text on a paper, it is using both the linguistic mode (words) and the spatial mode (the layout/format of the page). While the linguistic elements comprise the main message of the research paper, it’s the spatial elements that inform the reader that “this is an academic work”; it’s telling the reader to interact with it in a certain way.
ReplyDeleteMultimodality does not alter my view of writing, but rather equips me with a means of expressing the breadth and nuances of writing – how writing, as I see it, encompasses more than just the written word. Multimodality serves as a basis of understanding how the different elements/layers of a text interact and affect the message that is being put forth.
Multimodality is the synthesis of a text from more than one mode of communication. In our generation I feel like multimodal writing has the most power. Blogs, social media, internet news sites, video games, television, and movies are all extremely multimodal and they are the most consumed medias at this time. I believe that reason is because they are so multifaceted and that makes them more appealing. I would like to write comic book scripts and if I get good enough at art, draw my own comics. For me, multimodality is key to writing graphic media because you have to create a text in which the words and the art are not interfering with each other.
ReplyDeleteEven when writing only in print I believe that thinking about multimodality is very constructive because you can better anticipate how a reader imagines your work.
Multimodality is a way of communicating by combining multiple and different ways to explain one’s idea. This is not limited to writing; it includes a total of five modes. The first is the linguistic mode which focuses on the particular use of words and their delivery. Second is the visual mode or presentation and characteristics visible to an audience (color, style, size). Third is the aural mode. The aural mode has to do with the sound, or lack of sound, that is communicated to express a message. The spatial mode is similar to the visual mode because this mode, too, focuses on the physical arrangement and organization. Lastly, the gestural mode reflects the feelings that are being communicated. Body language and facial expressions are gestural modes that demonstrate feelings.
ReplyDeleteA multimodality is basically anything from a twitter feed or a billboard to a commercial or flyer. It is anything that is used for the purpose of communication; a way to express a message to an audience.
Multimodality contributes to my view of writing by expanding what I think writing is. Multimodality allows for writing to go beyond a basic essay or novel. Even small bursts of words are important types of writing because they have the possibility of being impactful and necessary. Billboards, for example, are able to get the point across in very few words. Billboards use words (linguistic mode), pictures (visual mode), placement (spatial mode) and in some cases faces (gestural mode) to reach an audience.
Multimodality allows for a broad audience to be targeted quickly and all through the same way. Reactions may not be the same but a reaction shows that someone has been impacted in some way. Writing isn’t enough anymore. For me, multimodality is almost essential to reach and affect a broad audience.
Multimodality with specific regard to texts and communication deals with the numerous forms of potential communication that are at play in any given text. Text here is taken broadly to mean any communicative thing, not just literal textual documents. According to Arola, Sheppard and Ball in Writer/Designer, even regular academic plain-text research papers are multimodal, because though they are composed primarily of written text, they may also include images or graphs, and the structure of the margins can be informative to the reader and therefore communicative.
ReplyDeleteMultimodality, by its definition in Writer/Designer, seems to contribute to any form of writing that is purposefully communicative. As it pertains to me, I see the merit in thinking of writing as a multidimensional activity that can be augmented by employment of alternate modes, like those mentioned in the graph in figure 1.6 (visual, aural, spatial, gestural). I do not, however, tend towards focusing on these factors when I actually write. Certainly I see the meaning of the concept of multimodality, and its necessity of use in practice, but as far as my experiences with writing have thus far gone, I have never occupied myself with concerns about presentation of the written words (save for MLA-formatting essays for school). I have tended often to think that my words would speak for themselves when read, and matters of multimodal presentation would only serve to either clarify or obfuscate that message.
Multimodality is a combination of communicative techniques to help explain a person’s thoughts and ideas. There are five main modes of communication: linguistic, visual, aural, spatial and gestural. Text is no longer limited to words, and these modes allow for a more expressive range of communication. The first mode mentioned was the linguistic mode. This mode is the use of language, whether it is written or spoken. It includes how the words are organized or arranged, as well as how they are developed and delivered (Arola, Ball and Sheppard, 5). Visual mode includes color, layout, style, size and perspective. It plays a major part in creating appealing advertisements for billboards, television, websites and stores (6). Aural mode, the third mode mentioned, incorporates all sorts of sounds. The sounds range from music to background noise, and everything in between. Speeches, television programs, sound effects online and radio shows all rely on the aural mode to efficiently communicate with their audiences (8). Spatial mode deals with how text looks. It involves arrangement, organization and proximity, and aims to make webpages, stores, classrooms and more attractive and useful to the reader (10). Last but not least, “Writer/Designer” mentions the gestural mode. It makes use of all kinds of body language as well as the interaction between two people. An example of this would be the facial expressions, movements and reactions of two people communicating with one another via video chat online.
ReplyDeleteMultimodality makes the world of text more customizable. It is easier for writers to express themselves in a way that entices a larger audience. The five modes mentioned above do contribute to my view of writing. Writers are never limited to text on paper. We can use whatever is available to us to make our text invite a specific audience to read our work, as well as pique the interest of those who might not have been interested in our work otherwise.
According to Writer/Designer, the word multimodal ‘describes how we combine multiple ways of communicating in everyday life’. If we consider multimodality while defining a text, all sorts of things can qualify, from performance art to epics to posters; the key is that the text communicate something to an audience, even if that something is open to very loose interpretation. According to the New London Group, there are five modes of communication—linguistic, visual, aural, gestural, and spatial. The combination of modes can alter the message; for instance, a picture of a raccoon clothed as a human (visual) is far less open to interpretation if it is accompanied by a caption (linguistic) referencing certain Marvel characters. In a more common example, the way that two actors or speakers are arranged and are interacting (spatial and gestural) on a screen or stage adds a layer of meaning to the dialogue they are performing (aural and linguistic).
ReplyDeleteThis concept does fit well with my view of text, and though I’ve never seen the modes of communication separated into these categories, I think that they’re as efficient and comprehensive as anyone could hope to come up with, and I’ll be keeping them in mind throughout my course of study. I did consider for a time whether some of the categories could be condensed, such as gestural and spatial into the heading of visual, but upon further reflection I can see why it may be simpler to differentiate between these, if just to be more specific when dissecting a text for interpretation.
In Writer/Designer, multimodal is defined as “a mash-up of multiple and mode” and “describes how we combine multiple different ways of communication in everyday life” (1). This is, of course, a rather straightforward/self-explanatory definition of what multimodality is, however; it is worth taking a closer look at and expanding this definition. To begin with, there are the “Five Modes of Communication”. In order for something to be considered multimodal, it must contain at least two of the following modes. The first mode, linguistic, “refers to the use of language, which usually means written or spoken words” (5). This mode is likely the mode in which most of us have the most experience. Following in terms of expected experience, the second mode is visual. As one might expect, the visual mode “refers to the use of images and other characteristics that readers see” (6). As an admitted visual learner, this mode is my personal favorite. Being able to see information as a picture or some kind of image is preferable to pure writing. Third, we got the aural mode, which “focuses on sound” (8). As far as my own preferences, I thoroughly enjoy the aural mode. I am obsessed with music and notice it in everything; nowadays, its good music that grabs your attention in commercials and other advertisements. Fourth is spatial mode, which is concerned with the manner in which items are arranged. This mode is especially relevant nowadays due to the increase in Internet use. Of course the Internet includes all of the modes mentioned above, but spatial is particularly prevalent. For example, the manner in which web pages are arranged to be easily navigated is the spatial mode. And last but not least is the gestural mode. Based on the name of this mode, it should be easy to infer that it has to do with gestures, IE body language. This mode is prevalent most in videos of people. Their facial expressions, body language, and hand gestures are all included in the gestural mode. So, now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I’d like to answer the question presented in the prompt with another question: how could multimodality not contribute to your view of writing? Multimodality is as old as writing itself. There were cave paintings first, then words. And after the introduction of words, it is not as if painting went extinct. Hell, even if you are some snob who thinks the written word is all there should ever be, the formatting of those words falls under the spatial mode, and the words themselves fall under linguistic. Boom, there are two modes for you. Based on what I read and understood from the book, I feel as if it’s impossible for writing not to multimodal. But hey, that’s just my two cents.
ReplyDeleteMultimodality, as described by Writer/Designer is the combination of multiple modes (with modes being defined as forms of communication). Arola, Sheppard, and Ball provide five different modes that have been defined by the New London Group (4). The five different mode types are linguistic, visual, aural, spatial, and gestural. Any combination of these types of texts forms a multimodal text. Linguistic modes refer to languages either written or spoken, and encompass choices in word, deliver, organization, and development of ideas. Visual mode refers to images, color, layout, style, size, and perspective. Aural mode focuses on sounds, such as soundtracks in movies, volume, ton of voice, silence, and sound effects. Spatial mode refers entirely to physical arrangement, organization, and proximity (placement). Finally, gestural mode refers to movement such as body language and facial expressions. Multimodality is a term that can be applied to any text with two or more of these modes.
ReplyDeleteMultimodality absolutely contributes to my view of writing in that I define writing as the act of communicating. The concept of multimodality illustrates that there is significantly more to writing than just transcribing words onto paper, and that there is significance in all choices regarding the five different modes. Personally, I feel that multimodality was a concept engraved in my personal definition of writing before I knew exactly what it was, because I think frequently, as the book points out, that linguistic modes are not always the most important (5). A prime example of this is the pecha kucha, where the linguistic and aural modes support the visual.
The format of a text can send all different kinds of messages about the content of the text, this is why understanding multimodality is so important to any writer. Multimodality is categorized into five different modes of communication; audio design, linguistic design, spatial design, visual design, and gestural design. All of the modes have a different effect on a work and almost every text uses multiple modes. These are what define the writing as a whole. Without linguistic designs, the writing could be choppy and difficult to understand. Without the visual design, it could be hard to imagine what the writer is saying. The example of Twitter used in the book, Writer/Designer, Arola, Sheppard and Ball state, was very effective in helping the understanding of multimodality. The layout of Twitter perfectly displays multiple modes of communication. Twitter’s spatial design helps the reader’s attention be drawn directly to the text at hand. The linguistic design helps the reader easily identify the writer’s purpose. As well as the visual design helps the writer further their point. All of these modes rely on each other to give the reader the full effect and that is why we have a need for multimodality.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the definition of writing is transforming thoughts into something concrete, therefore multimodality only contributes more to my definition and view of writing. It reminds me that there are numerous elements at hand that contribute to making a text as clear and genius as it deserves to be. If a text has no linguistic, spatial, visual, gestural, or audio design then it may result in a lack of understanding in the eyes of the reader. I believe that if the writer chooses to use multiple modes of technology to assist his message then it is a definite part of the writing process.
“Multimodal describes how we combine multiple different ways of communicating in everyday life.” (writer/designer, pg. 1) For example if you make a poster using a visual background and text, this is multimodal. The New London Group defines multimodal text in five different modes: linguistic, visual, aural, spatial, and gestural. Depending on what you are communicating and how, each of these can play the most important role.
ReplyDeleteLinguistic mode is probably the most common in our minds, meaning the mode referring to the language you use in spoken and written word. (pg.5) Visual mode refers to the use of images and other characteristics that readers see (pg.6), this can be by color, layout, style etc. Aural mode refers to sound (pg.8), whether a commercial be silent or filled with metal music, it will make a communication difference. The spatial mode is about physical arrangement and organization (pg. 10), the reader will focus in more on a certain text depending on where it is placed. Lastly there is the gestural mode, referring to the way movement creates meaning (pg. 12). For example, while someone is telling you a story, if they hug the other person first, you know the relationship is different than if they were to shake their hand.
This knowledge does contribute to my view of writing, because although I was aware of the different factors coming into play in commercials, posters etc., I didn’t really think of those medias as “writing”. Writing existed to me as the basic draft of writing on a computer or piece of paper with nothing surrounding it. The color of the writing was as chosen by your pen, pencil, or default computer text; the writing was the ideas that came out in word form. If you were to look at The Five Modes of Communication, you could say I thought of writing as only linguistic. I definitely thought about all the other modes playing into our world and perception today, but not how much they can effect small texts I think I am only reading for linguistic sake.
ReplyDeleteThe word multimodal, according to the textbook, refers to a text that incorporates multiple forms of communication for a common purpose or usage. These different ways of communicating are called modes. A text can exhibit any of the five modes of communication which include linguistic mode, visual mode, aural mode, spatial mode, and gestural mode. Linguistic mode refers to the choice and usage of language in the form of written or spoken words. Visual mode describes the visual characteristics of a text such as layout, color, shape, style, etc. Aural mode is centered on sound and acoustics. This can include the presence or absence of any music or sound effects, tone, volume, or inflection. Spatial mode refers to the physical organization and arrangement in a text as well as the proximity between objects. Finally, gestural mode is all about movement and, self-explicitly, gestures. These can include, hand motions, facial expressions, interaction from person to person and physical communication through body language. The idea of multimodality defines a piece as communicating using two or more of these modes at once.
I suppose this idea has affected the way I go about and think about writing. Though I have never used or learned about the term “multimodality” before, I think this concept is one that I have taken note of without realizing it. There are so many different things to consider when putting together a work of any kind. It is extremely important to carefully construct a composition keeping, not only what you want to communicate in mind, but also remembering your audience and their possible reaction to it. To do this, modes are very important. In fact, defining them as five separate focuses of composition can help a writer determine what to emphasize in order to effectively communicate what was intended.