From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Word of mouth, also called viva voce, is the passing of information from person to person using oral communication, which could be as simple as telling someone the time of day.[1] Storytelling is a common form of word-of-mouth communication where one person tells others a story about a real event or something made up. Oral tradition is cultural material and traditions transmitted by word of mouth through successive generations. Storytelling and oral tradition are forms of word of mouth that play important roles in folklore and mythology. Another example of oral communication is oral history—the recording, preservation and interpretation of historical information, based on the personal experiences and opinions of the speaker. Oral history preservation is the field that deals with the care and upkeep of oral history materials collected by word of mouth, whatever format they may be in.
Storytelling[edit]
Storytelling often involves improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values.
The earliest forms of storytelling were thought to have been primarily oral combined with gesture storytelling for many of the ancient cultures.[2] The Australian Aboriginal people painted symbols from stories on cave walls as a means of helping the storyteller remember the story. The story was then told using a combination of oral narrative, music, rock art, and dance.[3]
Traditionally, oral stories were committed to memory and then passed from generation to generation. However, in literate societies, written, televised, and internet media have largely replaced this method of communicating local, family, and cultural histories. Oral storytelling remains the dominant medium of learning in some countries with low literacy rates.
Oral tradition[edit]
Oral tradition (sometimes referred to as «oral culture» or «oral lore») is cultural material and traditions transmitted orally from one generation to another.[4][5] The messages or testimony are verbally transmitted in speech or song and may take the form, for example, of folktales, sayings, ballads, songs, or chants. In this way, it is possible for a society to transmit oral history, oral literature, oral law and other knowledges across generations without a writing system.
Sociologists emphasize a requirement that the material is held in common by a group of people, over several generations, and thus distinguish oral tradition from testimony or oral history.[6] In a general sense, «oral tradition» refers to the transmission of cultural material through vocal utterance, and was long held to be a key descriptor of folklore (a criterion no longer rigidly held by all folklorists).[7] As an academic discipline, it refers both to a set of objects of study and a method by which they are studied[8]—the method may be called variously «oral traditional theory», «the theory of Oral-Formulaic Composition» and the «Parry-Lord theory» (after two of its founders). The study of oral tradition is distinct from the academic discipline of oral history,[9] which is the recording of personal memories and histories of those who experienced historical eras or events.[10] It is also distinct from the study of orality, which can be defined as thought and its verbal expression in societies where the technologies of literacy (especially writing and print) are unfamiliar to most of the population.[11]
Oral history[edit]
Oral history is the recording of personal memories and histories of those who experienced historical eras or events.[10] Oral history is a method of historical documentation, using interviews with living survivors of the time being investigated. Oral history often touches on topics scarcely touched on by written documents, and by doing so, fills in the gaps of records that make up early historical documents. Oral history preservation is the field that deals with the care and upkeep of oral history materials, whatever format they may be in.[12]
Systems[edit]
Long-established systems using word-of-mouth include:
- the «grapevine»
- the salon
- the «bush telegraph»[13]
- the lecture circuit
- preaching[14]
See also[edit]
- Electronic word-of-mouth
- Communication
- Klout
- Oral communication
- Oral history
- Oral tradition
- PeerIndex
- Storytelling
- Telephone, an oral communication device
- Telephone, a game
- Train of thought
- Two-step flow of communication
- Walkie Talkie, designed for walking and talking
- Word-of-mouth marketing
References[edit]
- ^ «by word of mouth». thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ «Why did Native Americans make rock art?». Rock Art in Arkansas. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
- ^ Cajete, Gregory, Donna Eder and Regina Holyan. Life Lessons through Storytelling: Children’s Exploration of Ethics. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2010, ISBN 0253222443
- ^ Vansina, Jan: «Oral Tradition as History», 1985, James Currey Publishers, ISBN 0-85255-007-3, ISBN 978-0-85255-007-6; at page 27 and 28, where Vansina defines oral tradition as «verbal messages which are reported statements from the past beyond the present generation» which «specifies that the message must be oral statements spoken sung or called out on musical instruments
only»; «There must be transmission by word of mouth over at least a generation». He points out that «Our definition is a working definition for the use of historians. Sociologists, linguists or scholars of the verbal arts propose their own, which in, e.g., sociology, stresses common knowledge. In linguistics, features that distinguish the language from common dialogue (linguists), and in the verbal arts features of form and content that define art (folklorists)». - ^ Ki-Zerbo, Joseph: «Methodology and African Prehistory», 1990, UNESCO International Scientific Committee for the Drafting of a General History of Africa; James Currey Publishers, ISBN 0-85255-091-X, 9780852550915; see Ch. 7; «Oral tradition and its methodology» at pages 54-61; at page 54: «Oral tradition may be defined as being a testimony transmitted verbally from one generation to another. Its special characteristics are that it is verbal and the manner in which it is transmitted.»
- ^ Henige, David. Oral, but Oral What? The Nomenclatures of Orality and Their Implications Oral Tradition, 3/1-2 (1988): 229-38. p 232; Henige cites Jan Vansina (1985). Oral tradition as history. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press
- ^ Degh, Linda. American Folklore and the Mass Media. Bloomington:IUP, 1994, p. 31
- ^ Dundes, Alan, «Editor’s Introduction» to «The Theory of Oral Composition», John Miles Foley. Bloomington, IUP, 1988, pp. ix-xii
- ^ Henige, David. Oral, but Oral What? The Nomenclatures of Orality and Their Implications Oral Tradition, 3/1-2 (1988): 229-38. p 232; Henige cites Jan Vansina (1985). Oral tradition as history. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press
- ^ a b «UNC Writing Center Has Moved». www.unc.edu. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ Ong, Walter, S. J., «Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word». London: Methuen, 1982 p 12
- ^ Keakopa, M. (1998). The role of the archivist in the collection and preservation of oral traditions. S.A. Archives Journal, 40,87-93.
- ^
Dolgin, Alexander (6 October 2008). The Economics of Symbolic Exchange. Springer Science & Business Media (published 2008). p. 228. ISBN 9783540798828. Retrieved 2014-12-03.Word of mouth can overcome the information cascade devised by marketing specialists. This is important as objective testimony to the power of the bush telegraph.
- ^
«Luther asserted, ‘It is the manner of the New Testament and of the gospel that it must be preached and performed by word of mouth and a living voice. Christ himself has not written anything, nor has he ordered anything to be written, but rather to be preached by word of mouth.'» Quoted in:
Whitford, David M (25 September 2014). «Preaching and Worship». T&T Clark Companion to Reformation Theology. Bloomsbury Companions. Bloomsbury Publishing (published 2014). p. 161. ISBN 9780567445087. Retrieved 2014-12-03.
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Word of mouth is the passing of information from a person to one or more people in conversation. In the past, it referred only to speech, but now, it can sometimes include online communication. It can be as simple as telling someone what time it is, or it can involve longer stories and news. It is a good way to share information about things that are of interest to a local community, such as businesses, other people, and things that happened in the past.
Oral tradition[change | change source]
Oral tradition (also called «oral culture» or «oral lore») is when cultural material is transmitted orally from older people to younger people.[1][2] This material may include folktales, sayings, songs, or chants. It is a way for things like history, literature, and law to be passed down from generation to generation without a writing system.
Oral history[change | change source]
Oral history is history that is given by people who lived through historical eras or events.[3] Often, they are interviewed, and it is recorded. Usually, they talk about things that are not part of written history, such as what everyday life was like.
Marketing[change | change source]
Consumers often talk to their friends about their experiences with a product or a service. This is important for businesses because people are more likely to trust someone they know well.[4]
«Word-of-mouth marketing» happens when a business tries to encourage people to talk about their product. For example, they can offer rewards or suggest that they make posts on social media.
A lot of people think that a lot of word of mouth now happens on the internet. However, studies show that most word of mouth actually happens in spoken conversation.[5]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ Vansina, Jan: «Oral Tradition as History», 1985, James Currey Publishers, ISBN 0-85255-007-3, ISBN 978-0-85255-007-6; at page 27 and 28, where Vasina defines oral tradition as «verbal messages which are reported statements from the past beyond the present generation» which «specifies that the message must be oral statements spoken sung or called out on musical instruments only»; «There must be transmission by word of mouth over at least a generation». He points out that «Our definition is a working definition for the use of historians. Sociologists, linguists or scholars of the verbal arts propose their own, which in, e.g., sociology, stresses common knowledge. In linguistics, features that distinguish the language from common dialogue (linguists), and in the verbal arts features of form and content that define art (folklorists)».
- ↑ Ki-Zerbo, Joseph: «Methodology and African Prehistory», 1990, UNESCO International Scientific Committee for the Drafting of a General History of Africa; James Currey Publishers, ISBN 0-85255-091-X, 9780852550915; see Ch. 7; «Oral tradition and its methodology» at pages 54-61; at page 54: «Oral tradition may be defined as being a testimony transmitted verbally from one generation to another. Its special characteristics are that it is verbal and the manner in which it is transmitted.»
- ↑ «Oral History». Archived from the original on 2011-08-20. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
- ↑ Entrepreneur. Word-of-Mouth Advertising.
- ↑ «Social TV: «The Real Action is Not Online, It is Still Face-to-Face,» says CBS’s Dave Poltrack — The Keller Fay Group». The Keller Fay Group. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Acronyms, Wikipedia.
word of mouth
The verbal sharing of information. A: «How did you hear about our bakery?» B: «Oh, word of mouth. My dad told me about it.» We don’t have the budget for a big marketing campaign, so we’ll just have to hope that buzz about our shop gets spread by word of mouth.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
word of mouth
spoken language; informal or unofficial discourse.
1987 Bruce Duffy The World As I Found It His ideas were repeated by word of mouth or passed around as transcripts of the shorthand notes that his students doggedly took down during his lectures.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
word of mouth, by
Orally. This phrase dates from the sixteenth century and persists to the present, though simply “orally” would be more direct. “A little message unto hir by worde of mouth,” wrote Nicholas Udall in Ralph Roister Doister (ca. 1553), presumably differentiating it from a written message.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
- by word of mouth
- word of mouth, by
- have an argument
- have an argument (with someone)
- mm-hmm
- mhm
- mm
- go in with
- go in with (someone)
- have a skin like a rhinoceros
References in periodicals archive
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Jordanians are exposed to many sources of information on a daily basis, such as Mobile SMS messaging from companies with offers to buy different products, advertising about products and services over website portals, search engines and word of mouth spread daily over social networks and social blogs.
This study explained the direct impact of Word of Mouth on Consumer Purchase Intention.
One question that these marketers are constantly trying to answer is: what sparks word of mouth? There are many ways to trigger a conversation, and the most common way is via consumers who are willing to share their personal experience, especially given that «92% of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family above all forms of advertising»( Nielsen Report, «Global Trust in Advertising and Brand Messages», 2012 ).
It’s tougher out there now and racing is jostling to get on to a new generation’s to-do list, but word of mouth still trumps all other promotions.
Positive word of mouth is a common approach to loyalty conceptualization where loyal customers become advocates for the service or product (10).
IT’S good that you are getting word of mouth recommendations — they show that you do a good job and customers are satisfied.
In spite of local habits, the overall attitude to embracing new technologies, to pur- chase online both B2C and C2C with marketplaces like souq.com, to use so- cial networks, comparison sites, word of mouth, etc.
He points out how and why word of mouth marketing works and guides readers about how it can be implemented.
CINCINNATI — When it comes to consumer word of mouth regarding brands, a new survey suggests that bad news travels faster than good news.
In contrast to US studies, we find robust evidence that the trading decisions of Chinese investors are influenced, via word of mouth, by those of their peers who maintain brokerage accounts at the same branch, but not by those whose accounts are maintained at another branch located in the same cir.
Instrumental in the refinement and widespread use of word of mouth marketing in the ag industry, she has led ag marketers to leverage positive customer experiences for increased market gains.
Social media consultancy Converseon and word-of-mouth analytics firm ChatThreads have joined to create CHORUSao, the first system to comprehensively fuse advanced social media listening and analysis together with offline word of mouth tracking.
Marsden-based agency The Design Mechanics said word of mouth marketing — commonly known asWOM- was one of the most effective ways to gain new business and one of the easiest to measure.
is the agency’s word of mouth marketing division for banks and credit unions, specializing in many forms of word of mouth marketing, including guerrilla marketing, viral marketing, social media, buzz-generation and grassroots marketing.
Burnley Crown Court heard that he had 17 customers and built up his trade through «word of mouth«.
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Asked by: Orlando Reichert
Score: 4.1/5
(62 votes)
Word of mouth or viva voce, is the passing of information from person to person using oral communication, which could be as simple as telling someone the time of day. Storytelling is a common form of word-of-mouth communication where one person tells others a story about a real event or something made up.
What does the phrase word of mouth mean?
word of mouth. noun phrase. Definition of word of mouth (Entry 2 of 2) : oral communication especially : oral often inadvertent publicity.
What is an example of word of mouth?
Word of mouth marketing is when a consumer’s interest is reflected in their everyday dialogue. … Netflix, for example, used word of mouth marketing to make binge-watching popular with its organic tagline Netflix and chill. The company promoted it on social media which became a huge success.
Why do people say word of mouth?
The importance of word of mouth.
WOM recommendations are a crucial marketing tool for any brand. This is mainly because since they come from sources familiar to us already, i.e. friends and family, and due to the ‘buzz’ user-generated content can induce, they‘re more trustworthy and valuable.
What is the collective word of mouth?
Word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing refers to promotional activities that leverage social interactions and word of mouth between consumers.
37 related questions found
Is mouth a person place or thing?
As detailed above, ‘mouth’ can be a verb or a noun. Verb usage: He mouthed his opinions on the subject at the meeting. … Noun usage: The mouth of the river is a good place to go birdwatching in spring and autumn. Noun usage: The mouth of a cave.
Is word of mouth marketing?
Word-of-mouth marketing (WOM marketing) happens when consumers talk about a company’s product or service to their friends, family, and to others with whom they have close relationships. WOM marketing is one of the most powerful forms of advertising as 92% of consumers trust their friends over traditional media.
Why is word of mouth so powerful?
Word-of-mouth can be defined as a form of communication among consumers based on their personal experiences and impressions of a product or service. This process can be the most powerful information source since it involves friends and family mem- bers, typically viewed as trustable people.
How accurate is word of mouth?
Yes. But not always. A great deal of research finds that word of mouth is more effective than other types of marketing. Whether compared to traditional advertising, media mentions, or promotional events, word of mouth is more useful in creating new users and customers.
How strong is word of mouth?
Did you know word of mouth marketing drives $6 trillion of annual consumer spending and is estimated to account for 13% of consumer sales. Word of Mouth marketing impression results 5x more sales than a paid media impression and people are 90% more likely to trust and buy from a brand recommended by a friend.
Is word of mouth a channel?
So, what is word of mouth as a channel? Successful businesses often rely on many different marketing channels. Paid ads, content marketing, social media, and email marketing are among the most popular. But word of mouth is never mentioned as a channel.
How do I sell Word of mouth?
7 ways to implement word-of-mouth marketing in your strategy
- Encourage user-generated content (UGC) …
- Share customer testimonials/reviews. …
- Get product ratings on your site. …
- Offer an incentive: …
- Create a referral program. …
- Connect with industry influencers and thought leaders.
What companies use word of mouth?
Check out how top brands get customers talking with these brilliant word-of-mouth marketing examples.
- Pinterest. Pinterest thrives on user-generated content. …
- Threadless. Growing a community is an invaluable way to gain insight about your audience while grooming brand advocates. …
- Coca-Cola. …
- Dropbox. …
- Casper Mattress Company.
How do you say word of mouth in Spanish?
by word of mouth {adverb}
por el boca a boca {adv.} de forma oral {adv.} de boca en boca {adv.}
Is social media considered word of mouth?
It’s also important to understand that social media itself isn’t word of mouth; it’s one way that word of mouth spreads. Word of mouth is a story or verbal recommendation. Social media is a conveyance mechanism for that story.
Is word-of-mouth a metric?
It was tied to active users, it was a stable metric, and we could influence it with product and marketing initiatives. After Zynga I teamed up with Mike Taylor (co-founder at Ladder) to broaden this concept beyond DAU and for other industries, to what we now call the Word of Mouth Coefficient (or WOM coefficient).
Is word-of-mouth Kumar valuable?
According to Kumar, Petersen, and Leone, your most valuable customers are those whose word of mouth brings in the most profitable new customers, regardless of how much they themselves buy. … High-purchasing customers who say they’ll recommend your firm to others often don’t bother.
Why word-of-mouth is bad?
An advantage of word-of-mouth advertising is the message can spread quickly. At the same time, this is a disadvantage. If one customer has a bad experience, the company may lose repeat business from the customer. … Some companies spark word-of-mouth advertising by participating on social media networks.
What is positive word of mouth?
1. Positive WOM is to provide information for consumers which highlights the strengths of a product or service and encourages consumers to adopt a product or service.
Is word of mouth a good marketing strategy?
Because word of mouth advertising encourages customers or prospects to share authentic and engaging marketing messages on your behalf, it’s one of the most cost-effective and powerful promotional solutions out there. In fact, a little WOM can improve the overall impact of your marketing campaigns by up to 54%.
How do you grow a word of mouth business?
10 Ways to Get Word of Mouth for Your Business
- Provide Good Customer Service. …
- Make It Easy for Your Customers to Contact You. …
- Maintain a Positive Image. …
- Clean and Pleasant Surroundings Are a Must – Even on the Web! …
- Ask for Testimonials and Display Them Prominently. …
- Give Lessons or Seminars. …
- Engage Customers on Social Media.
What is the use of mouth?
The two main functions of the mouth are eating and speaking. The face’s trigeminal nerve provides sensation (feeling) and helps us to bite, chew and swallow. Some disorders of the mouth include infections, ulcers, cancer, cleft palate, dry mouth syndrome, dental caries and speech problems such as lisping.
Is mouth singular or plural?
The plural form of mouth; more than one (kind of) mouth. I think they all have large mouths.
What is a mouth in a river?
The place where a river enters a lake, larger river, or the ocean is called its mouth. River mouths are places of much activity. As a river flows, it picks up sediment from the river bed, eroding banks, and debris on the water. … When large amounts of alluvium are deposited at the mouth of a river, a delta is formed.
How does Netflix use word of mouth?
However, Netflix boosts its word of mouth advertising by tapping into user data and sentiment – and delivering exactly what people want on the back of it. For example, recognising the phenomenon of ‘binge watching’, Netflix strategically released all ten episodes of Making a Murderer in one go.
Recent Examples on the Web
Long before everything was a click away, Ms. Sheraton followed word-of-mouth tips about an amazing noodle nook or a West African joint with a delicious lamb mafé in peanut sauce.
—
Brian Murphy, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Apr. 2023
The good news: analysts believe it’s primed to keep bringing in crowds given its great reviews and enthusiastic word-of-mouth.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 3 Apr. 2023
This has led to strong word-of-mouth, what appears to be a strong opening weekend for a brand new movie IP, and hopefully some box office legs to match.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 1 Apr. 2023
But how does the opposite of trauma — unexpected word-of-mouth success, Emmy nominations, critical raves, and more — transform Yellowjackets itself?
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2023
Information also travels word-of-mouth among community members, Rios said.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2023
The Raincoats were an underground word-of-mouth legend, yet their mystique just grew.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2023
Few better examples exist of social media’s campaigning impact than actress Andrea Riseborough’s surprise Oscar nom for To Leslie, which followed a ferocious celebrity word-of-mouth push during Academy voting.
—Hilton Dresden, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2023
And then something unexpected happened: EEAAO became a word-of-mouth sensation in a social media world.
—Scott Phillips, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023
An old firehouse had been repurposed for a concert, part of a series of events organized by HDTS that people mostly learn about through word of mouth (or Instagram).
—Rosecrans Baldwin, Travel + Leisure, 30 Mar. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘word-of-mouth.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.