Crossing Borders: A Multimodal Perspective on Storytelling

In this study, we perform a multimodal spoken discourse analysis to qualitatively examine the discursive strategies used by three professional oral storytellers during their storytelling sessions for children. Specifically, we examine how these storytellers move progressively and seamlessly from one structural component of a narrative to the next to arouse, sustain, and heighten audience interest. Our analysis reveals a variety of verbal, vocal, and visual features strategically used by the storytellers. We then discuss the extent to which these strategies and resources can be applied or adapted by writing instructors to help students develop a multimodal perspective on storytelling. The study offers implications for educators to leverage the richness of oral storytelling to help students develop a multimodal understanding of the composing process.