Transformation of the Oral Story Genre in the Modern Communication Space

Abstract

The genre of oral storytelling is one of the oldest ways of transmitting information, emotions, and social experience, and it remains the most common form of verbal interpersonal communication. With the development of technology and digital media, as well as the influence of global mediatization on the modern information space, the boundaries between written and oral speech have begun to blur. This has led to transformations not only in form but also in content, as genre transformation is a multidimensional phenomenon that manifests itself at all levels of the artistic whole. The search for new forms has led to experiments in crossing
and blending genres. At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, a change occurred in the cultural code, and the predominantly verbal national culture experienced a crisis of logocentrism. Visual and auditory methods of transmitting information began to take precedence. The very type of genre thinking, shaped by centuries-old traditions, started to change. Computer technologies began actively interacting with literature, creating new genre forms. This article examines several aspects of the transformation of the oral storytelling genre under the influence of digital technology — particularly its effects on structure, functions, and speech strategies within the modern communicative space. The analysis takes into account not only the changing eras and communication channels but also the shifts in the linguistic consciousness of both author and addressee. In addition to identifying similarities, the article explores the differences between oral stories in new digital formats and traditional oral storytelling. Digitalization has altered both the ways in which people share information and the nature of communication itself, including topic selection, style, and audience interaction. Observations show that, alongside classic genres of oral creativity, there is growing popularity of narrative digital forms
such as podcasts, video stories, storytelling projects, messaging platforms, and online discussions. It has been established that the transformation of a traditional oral story into a mediatized text is a process in which style and structure change as the story is adapted for modern media platforms. The traditional genre system has also been influenced by the process of media convergence. In the modern communicative space, storytelling becomes increasingly interactive, visual, and concise, and these genre transformations enhance contact with the recipient. The article identifies patterns of modification within the storytelling genre influenced by the specific features of the digital communication environment. It emphasizes that the inclusion of audiovisual
elements necessitates changes not only in language but also in the overall principles of storytelling. As the genre of oral storytelling adapts to new formats and audience expectations, it undergoes significant transformations in the modern communicative space.