oralist

[ awr-uh-list, ohr- ]

noun

1. an advocate of oralism.
2. a deaf person who communicates through lipreading and speech.

adjective

1. of or relating to oralism.

Word History and Origins

Origin of oralist¹

First recorded in 1865–70; oral + -ist

Example Sentences

“I’m a trial lawyer with some successful circuit work. This case is too important to risk a novice Supreme Court oralist,” Walczak said in an email.

From Seattle Times

“I’m a trial lawyer with some successful circuit work. This case is too important to risk a novice Supreme Court oralist,” Walczak said in an email.

From Washington Times

It was not until 1960, with the publication of the linguist William Stokoe’s monograph “Sign Language Structure,” that A.S.L. would recover from the deleterious effects of the oralist movement and be treated academically as a bona fide language.

From New York Times

The Talisman has also destroyed books and banned reading and writing, but our heroine Arian is an “oralist” who recites what is remembered from religious texts — to magical ends.

From Seattle Times

The Talisman has also destroyed books and banned reading and writing, but our heroine Arian is an “oralist” who recites what is remembered from religious texts — to magical ends.

From Washington Post