# Orality: A Semantic Canvas for Externalizing and Clarifying Thoughts with Speech

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.02544 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.02544/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Placed in Audio-language model reasoning, one of 17 directions in LLM reasoning.
- Builds on 5 of its 55 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 3 Mar 2026.

## Placed in

- LLM reasoning / [Audio-language model reasoning](https://mlsanity.com/lr/audio-language-model-reasoning/)

## Builds on (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [AI Transparency in the Age of LLMs: A Human-Centered Research Roadmap](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.01941/) (2023)
- [Enhancing Critical Thinking in Generative AI Search with Metacognitive Prompts](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.24014/) (2025)
- [Understanding, Protecting, and Augmenting Human Cognition with Generative AI: A Synthesis of the CHI 2025 Tools for Thought Workshop](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.21036/) (2025)
- [AI as Extraherics: Fostering Higher-order Thinking Skills in Human-AI Interaction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2409.09218/) (2024)
- [Mindalogue: LLM-Powered Nonlinear Interaction for Effective Learning and Task Exploration](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.10570/) (2024)

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [VoCa: Designing Speech-Canvas Interaction for Voice-Based Conversational Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2610.04706/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

People speak aloud to externalize thoughts as one way to help clarify and organize them. Although Speech-to-text can capture these thoughts, transcripts can be difficult to read and make sense due to disfluencies, repetitions and potential disorganization. To support thinking through verbalization, we introduce Orality, which extracts key information from spoken content, performs semantic analysis through LLMs to form a node-link diagram in an interactive canvas. Instead of reading and working with transcripts, users could manipulate clusters of nodes and give verbal instructions to re-extract and organize the content in other ways. It also provides AI-generated inspirational questions and detection of logical conflicts. We conducted a lab study with twelve participants comparing Orality against speech interaction with ChatGPT. We found that Orality can better support users in clarifying and developing their thoughts. The findings also identified the affordances of both graphical and conversational thought clarification tools and derived design implications.