Oral Tradition Written Down
Megan Throne
Background
It is difficult to say exactly when the use of oral traditions began, as they have probably existed since organized language was established. Oral traditions are defined as “verbal messages which are reported statements from the past beyond the present generation.”[1] Using their memory, “preliterate peoples… hand(ed) down their traditions in a form made suitable for oral transmission by the use of rhyme or other formulae for linking the materials together.”[2] Oral traditions were used before ancient peoples had developed writing in order to convey their moral traditions and “social codes” in an engaging way that would be remembered by the audience. The characters in the tales were related to “present-day events” in order to “help to convey a sense of pride and belonging to a given community, setting accepted behavioral patterns and reinforcing social cohesion.”[3]
Turning Point
When written language arose in ancient civilizations, oral traditions were able to be recorded. One example of an important figure who recorded oral traditions of his society is Homer of ancient Greece. His works, such as the Iliad and Odyssey, were based off of ancient Greek oral traditions.[4] The Odyssey, for instance, conveys Greek standards for how people should act both as hosts and guests. Though the events of the Odyssey are fictionalized, the rituals that the characters carry out act as a record of Greek culture and values.[5]
Effect
Writing down oral traditions dramatically affected the ability of societies to document their history, culture, and values. Rather than tales spreading slowly by word of mouth and being changed over time as they spread, they were able to be regulated and systematized. In some cases, tales could become more historically accurate, in that they would be written down exactly when events took place rather than years later. Modern examples of written down oral tradition include literature for children (which typically has a moral lesson), film, and historical legends.
[1]Vansina, Jan. Oral Tradition as History. 1985. 27.
[2]Vansina, Jan. Oral Tradition: A Study in Historical Methodology. 1965. 4.
[3]Thackway, Melissa. Africa shoots back: Alternative perspectives in Sub-Saharan Francophone African film. 2003. 53-54
[4] “Homer.” The Bloomsbury Dictionary of English Literature.1997.
[5] Homer. The Odyssey of Homer.750-650 B.C.E.
Bibliography
Homer. The Iliad.n.p. 750-650 B.C.E. Web.
Homer. The Odyssey of Homer.n.p. Cowper, William (translator). 750-650 B.C.E. Web.
“Homer.” The Bloomsbury Dictionary of English Literature.Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd.
London. 1997. Credo Reference. Web.
“Oral Tradition.”African-American Writers: A Dictionary.ABC-CLIO. Santa Barbara. 2000.
Credo Reference.Web.
Thackway, Melissa. Africa shoots back: Alternative perspectives in Sub-Saharan Francophone
African film.Indiana University Press. 2003.
Vansina, Jan. Oral Tradition: A Study in Historical Methodology. Aldine Publishing Company.
Chicago. 1965.
Vansina, Jan. Oral Tradition as History. The University of Wisconsin Press. Madison,
Wisconsin. 1985.
Megan Throne
Background
It is difficult to say exactly when the use of oral traditions began, as they have probably existed since organized language was established. Oral traditions are defined as “verbal messages which are reported statements from the past beyond the present generation.”[1] Using their memory, “preliterate peoples… hand(ed) down their traditions in a form made suitable for oral transmission by the use of rhyme or other formulae for linking the materials together.”[2] Oral traditions were used before ancient peoples had developed writing in order to convey their moral traditions and “social codes” in an engaging way that would be remembered by the audience. The characters in the tales were related to “present-day events” in order to “help to convey a sense of pride and belonging to a given community, setting accepted behavioral patterns and reinforcing social cohesion.”[3]
Turning Point
When written language arose in ancient civilizations, oral traditions were able to be recorded. One example of an important figure who recorded oral traditions of his society is Homer of ancient Greece. His works, such as the Iliad and Odyssey, were based off of ancient Greek oral traditions.[4] The Odyssey, for instance, conveys Greek standards for how people should act both as hosts and guests. Though the events of the Odyssey are fictionalized, the rituals that the characters carry out act as a record of Greek culture and values.[5]
Effect
Writing down oral traditions dramatically affected the ability of societies to document their history, culture, and values. Rather than tales spreading slowly by word of mouth and being changed over time as they spread, they were able to be regulated and systematized. In some cases, tales could become more historically accurate, in that they would be written down exactly when events took place rather than years later. Modern examples of written down oral tradition include literature for children (which typically has a moral lesson), film, and historical legends.
[1]Vansina, Jan. Oral Tradition as History. 1985. 27.
[2]Vansina, Jan. Oral Tradition: A Study in Historical Methodology. 1965. 4.
[3]Thackway, Melissa. Africa shoots back: Alternative perspectives in Sub-Saharan Francophone African film. 2003. 53-54
[4] “Homer.” The Bloomsbury Dictionary of English Literature.1997.
[5] Homer. The Odyssey of Homer.750-650 B.C.E.
Bibliography
Homer. The Iliad.n.p. 750-650 B.C.E. Web.
Homer. The Odyssey of Homer.n.p. Cowper, William (translator). 750-650 B.C.E. Web.
“Homer.” The Bloomsbury Dictionary of English Literature.Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd.
London. 1997. Credo Reference. Web.
“Oral Tradition.”African-American Writers: A Dictionary.ABC-CLIO. Santa Barbara. 2000.
Credo Reference.Web.
Thackway, Melissa. Africa shoots back: Alternative perspectives in Sub-Saharan Francophone
African film.Indiana University Press. 2003.
Vansina, Jan. Oral Tradition: A Study in Historical Methodology. Aldine Publishing Company.
Chicago. 1965.
Vansina, Jan. Oral Tradition as History. The University of Wisconsin Press. Madison,
Wisconsin. 1985.