ABSTRACT

The study of oral traditions and verbal arts leads into an area of human culture to which anthropologists are increasingly turning their attention. Oral Traditions and the Verbal Arts provides up-to-date guidance on how to approach the study of oral form and their performances, treating both the practicalities of fieldwork and the methods by which oral texts and performances can be observed, collected or analysed. It also relates to those current controversies about the nature of performance and of 'text'.
Designed as a practical and systematic introduction to the processes and problems of researching in this area, this is an invaluable guide for students, and lecturers of anthropology and cultural studies and also for general readers who are interested in enjoying oral literature for its own sake.

chapter 1|22 pages

Introduction: scope and terminology

chapter 2|27 pages

Theoretical perspectives

chapter 3|18 pages

Some prior issues and practicalities

chapter 5|20 pages

Observing and analysing performance

chapter 6|21 pages

Production, functions and ideas

chapter 7|21 pages

Genres and boundaries

chapter 10|19 pages

Ethics