What is word of mouth definition

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]

  1. ^ «by word of mouth». thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  2. ^ «Why did Native Americans make rock art?». Rock Art in Arkansas. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  3. ^ Cajete, Gregory, Donna Eder and Regina Holyan. Life Lessons through Storytelling: Children’s Exploration of Ethics. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2010, ISBN 0253222443
  4. ^ 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)».
  5. ^ 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.»
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ Degh, Linda. American Folklore and the Mass Media. Bloomington:IUP, 1994, p. 31
  8. ^ Dundes, Alan, «Editor’s Introduction» to «The Theory of Oral Composition», John Miles Foley. Bloomington, IUP, 1988, pp. ix-xii
  9. ^ 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
  10. ^ a b «UNC Writing Center Has Moved». www.unc.edu. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  11. ^ Ong, Walter, S. J., «Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word». London: Methuen, 1982 p 12
  12. ^ Keakopa, M. (1998). The role of the archivist in the collection and preservation of oral traditions. S.A. Archives Journal, 40,87-93.
  13. ^
    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.
  14. ^
    «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.

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

See also:

  • 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
?

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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Have you ever bought something or taken a chance on a service based solely on word of mouth? You may not have even known you did it if you don’t understand what the phrase “word of mouth” means. I’ve got some insight into this common saying, so read on and learn for yourself!

What Does Word of Mouth Mean?

Word of Mouth Usage Origin Meaning

“Word of mouth” refers to the communication of certain info from one person to another by spoken words. It’s when you tell another person about your experience with a product, service, or even a location.

“Word of mouth” is a really powerful marketing tool because it’s based on trust and personal recommendation. Most people are more likely to take a chance on something if a person they know recommends it rather than being influenced by advertising.

In my world of book publishing, I know for a fact that readers are far more likely to take a chance on my books if another reader suggests it rather than buy my books based on paid advertising like Facebook ads.

Is It “Word of Mouth” or “Words of Mouth”?

Let’s clear up the correct way to say the phrase. It’s “word of mouth,” not “words of mouth” or even “word to mouth.”

The use of the singular “word” encompasses the collective information being communicated, while “mouth” is how it’s transmitted.

So, it’s not multiple words coming out of multiple mouths but a single piece of information being passed along from one person’s mouth to someone’s ears.

Just think of the phrase “word on the street.” It doesn’t mean just a single word. It’s a slang way of asking “what’s being said amongst the people.”

Is “Word of Mouth” Hyphenated?

No, “word of mouth” isn’t supposed to be hyphenated unless you’re modifying the noun after it. Otherwise, it’s a two-word phrase that’s usually written without the use of a hyphen.

  • I prefer word-of-mouth recommendations over paid marketing efforts.
  • Do you listen to word of mouth when looking for new products?

The Origin of the Phrase “Word of Mouth”

The idiomatic saying dated all the way to 1533 and was used to define the act of speaking and actually derived from the Old English word “mop,” aka mouth.

Some say it came from the Medieval Latin term viva voce, which means with the living voice. It was first used in English around the 16th century.

The phrase itself was coined for modern usage by mathematician and statistician George Silverman after conducting a focus group test.

Using Word of Mouth in a Sentence

Word of Mouth Usage Origin Meaning 1

  • I heard about this awesome new restaurant from a friend of mine, and it was amazing! I would never have gone if it weren’t for the word-of-mouth referrals.
  • My neighbor recommended this plumber, who did a fantastic job fixing my sink. I trust word of mouth from friends and first-hand experiences better than an ad.
  • As a prolific reader, reading at least a book a week, I tend to buy books based on word-of-mouth recommendations from readers who enjoy the same books as I do.
  • Word-of-mouth advertising is the way to go these days with so much competition in the paid ads market. 
  • We used to get word-of-mouth knowledge from our elders, but now we get it from Google. 

Word of Mouth Is King

So, whether you’re looking for a new product or service or trying to sell something of your own, the word-of-mouth basis has been preferred by people for centuries because it invokes a sense of trust. “Well, they liked it, so it must be good.” Just remember to hyphenate the saying if you’re using it to modify the noun after it, like “word-of-mouth networks.”

  • 1
    word of mouth

    сущ.

    молва; сарафанное радио

    Англо-русский современный словарь > word of mouth

  • 2
    word-of-mouth

    [wɜːdəv’mauθ]

    The film had good word-of-mouth publicity. — Фильм получил хорошие отзывы зрителей, которые стали для него отличной рекламой.

    Англо-русский современный словарь > word-of-mouth

  • 3
    word of mouth

    Англо-русский экономический словарь > word of mouth

  • 4
    word-of-mouth

    [͵wɜ:dəvʹmaʋθ]

    устный, передаваемый в устной форме

    producers rely on word-of-mouth advertising — продюсеры рассчитывают, что публика будет сама расхваливать фильм

    НБАРС > word-of-mouth

  • 5
    word-of-mouth

    a устный, передаваемый в устной форме

    Синонимический ряд:

    spoken (adj.) lingual; mouthed; oral; phonetic; said; spoken; unwritten; uttered; verbal; voiced

    English-Russian base dictionary > word-of-mouth

  • 6
    word-of-mouth

    Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > word-of-mouth

  • 7
    word of mouth

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > word of mouth

  • 8
    word-of-mouth

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > word-of-mouth

  • 9
    word of mouth

    (a) передаваемый в устной форме; устный

    Новый англо-русский словарь > word of mouth

  • 10
    word-of-mouth

      устный; (реклама) «из уст в уста» (информация о товаре, передаваемая устно одним потребителем другому)

    Англо-русский словарь по рекламе > word-of-mouth

  • 11
    word-of-mouth advertising

    1. реклама «из уст в уста»

    реклама «из уст в уста»
    Реклама, передаваемая удовлетворенным приобретением товара/услуги своим близким, друзьям или просто людям, стоящим рядом с ним в очереди за мороженым. Строго говоря, это не является истинной рекламой, поскольку настоящая реклама всегда оплачивается рекламодателем. Этот полезный жизненный опыт делает видом рекламы тот факт, что все, услышавшие сообщение, могут быть потенциальными потребителями этого товара или услуги. Большинство западных специалистов по маркетингу считают word-of-mouth самым эффективным видом рекламы и заявляют, что в некоторых случаях «изустная реклама» играет более важную роль при принятии решения о покупке, чем реклама в СМИ. Это особенно верно в отношении некоторых продуктов питания и предметов личного пользования. Как ни парадоксально, сложностью в использовании word-of-mouth является сложность ее использования. Важнейшую роль в формировании положительного мнения о продукте/услуге играет его/ее качество. Для того чтобы харизматичная дама с красивыми глазами, отмачивая ногти в маникюрном кабинете, упомянула своим гламурным соседкам о вчерашнем посещении «восхитительного массажиста Василия Ивановича», необходимо, чтобы услуги этого Василия были по меньшей мере качественными.
    [ http://www.lexikon.ru/rekl/a_eng.html]

    Тематики

    • реклама

    EN

    • word-of-mouth advertising

    Англо-русский словарь нормативно-технической терминологии > word-of-mouth advertising

  • 12
    word-of-mouth advertising

    рекл.

    реклама из уст в уста

    See:

    * * *

    реклама, создаваемая потребителями

    * * *

    рекламирование нового товара или услуги покупателем, который рассказывает своим друзьям, соседям и знакомым о достоинствах товара

    Англо-русский экономический словарь > word-of-mouth advertising

  • 13
    word of mouth marketing.

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > word of mouth marketing.

  • 14
    word-of-mouth advertising

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > word-of-mouth advertising

  • 15
    word-of-mouth communication

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > word-of-mouth communication

  • 16
    word-of-mouth influence

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > word-of-mouth influence

  • 17
    word-of-mouth influence channel

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > word-of-mouth influence channel

  • 18
    word-of-mouth marketing

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > word-of-mouth marketing

  • 19
    word-of-mouth publicity

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > word-of-mouth publicity

  • 20
    word-of-mouth recommendation

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > word-of-mouth recommendation

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См. также в других словарях:

  • Word of mouth — is a reference to the passing of information by verbal means, especially recommendations, but also general information, in an informal, person to person manner. Word of mouth is typically considered a face to face spoken communication, although …   Wikipedia

  • Word of Mouth — Studioalbum von Jaco Pastorius Veröffentlichung 1981 Label Warner Bros. Records Format …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • word of mouth — UK US (also word of mouth) noun [U] COMMERCE ► the process of telling people you know about a particular product or service, usually because you think it is good and want to encourage them to try it: by/through word of mouth »We get most of our… …   Financial and business terms

  • Word of Mouth — Álbum de estudio de The Kinks Publicación 19 de noviembre de 1984 Grabación Junjio de 1983 Septiembre de 1984 en Konk Studios, Londres Género(s) Rock …   Wikipedia Español

  • Word of Mouth — Album par The Kinks Sortie 19 novembre 1984 Enregistrement juin 1983 – septembre 1984 Studios Konk (Londres) Durée 43:04 Genre rock …   Wikipédia en Français

  • word-of-mouth — ˌword of ˈmouth noun [uncountable] when people hear about something from their friends, people they work with etc: • Many of our clients come through word of mouth recommendations …   Financial and business terms

  • word of mouth — word′ of mouth′ n. cvb informal oral communication: rumors spreading by word of mouth[/ex] • Etymology: 1545–55 word′ of mouth′, adj …   From formal English to slang

  • word-of-mouth — [wʉrdəv mouth′] adj. communicated orally, as in conversation * * * See word of mouth. * * * …   Universalium

  • word of mouth — word of mouth, adj. informal oral communication: The rumor spread rapidly by word of mouth. [1545 55] * * * …   Universalium

  • word of mouth — If something becomes known by word of mouth, it is because people are talking about it, not through publicity, etc …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • word of mouth — n. informal speech or conversation between persons, as opposed to writing or publishing [gossip spread by word of mouth] …   English World dictionary

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



See More

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.

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