Conceptualizing oral documents

Introduction. This paper reflects an exploratory investigation into information based in oral modalities. It also explains how an increase in formal recognition of orality as a valid mode for making information available introduces the need to seriously consider it and artefacts that emerge from it. A conceptualization of an oral document is presented. It incorporates an analysis of social constructionism, document, information behaviour, and allied literatures. Argument. The preliminary finding presented in this paper is that specific types of artefacts may be linked to certain stages in the information life cycle. Specifically, there may be a preference for situating newer information in oral modalities. Implications of this finding are discussed. They include the need for deeper analysis of oral information behaviour and oral documents. Conclusion. I argue for increasing our understanding of artefacts derived from oral information, like oral documents. Doing so may lead to further insight into documents, information artefacts born from other modalities, as well as preferences for using specific types of information modalities.