Understanding Language Hermeneutics in the Digital Age

Walter J. Ong delved deeply into the essence of language across its various forms, be it oral, written, printed, or digital. His posthumous archives unveiled unpublished drafts of a final manuscript that he envisioned as a culmination of his life's work. The debut of "Language as Hermeneutic," meticulously reconstructed by Thomas D. Zlatic and Sara van den Berg from Ong's diverse drafts, goes beyond a mere summary of his ideas. It introduces fresh perspectives on cognition, interpretation, and language. Ong highlights the intrinsic connection of digitization to all forms of "writing," tracing back to ancient clay tablets. With the escalating digitization in print and digital realms, he stresses the need to counteract fragmentation through unifying hermeneutic approaches, particularly those shaped by oral rather than written traditions.

Within this publication, in addition to the revised text of "Language as Hermeneutic," readers will find insightful essays delving into the reconstruction of Ong's work and its significance within his intellectual pursuits. An exclusive inclusion is Ong's unpublished article titled "Time, Digitization, and Dalí’s Reminiscence," where he further explores the role of language in preserving and enriching our humanity amidst the digital age.