The Aspect of Orality and the Interaction between the Oral and the Written in Tamba Oral Traditions скачать в хорошем качестве

The Aspect of Orality and the Interaction between the Oral and the Written in Tamba Oral Traditions

It is said that the term ‘literature’ is derived from the Latin literatura, from litera which signifies the letters of the alphabet. This way the word literature has been related to writing and until the 1800s literature could simply mean writing or any written knowledge. With such association between the term literature with writing, many scholars challenge the use of the terms oral-literature and oral-text. With time the term literature has developed into signifying certain kinds of creative compositions, styles, use of language differentiating literary from non-literary work. It is also to be noted that with time the understanding of literature and literary studies has gone on to mean wide range of artistic forms, genres and also includes oral forms. With this understanding many also speak of the usefulness of the term oral literature which speaks of existence of literature beyond the written forms. The Darjeeling Hills is home to many folk traditions and oral traditions in numerous languages many of which have been recognised as endangered. This lecture shall discuss the tamba (poet and historian) tradition as indigenous folk form and oral tradition of the Tamang Community. The lecture shall discuss the many aspects of its oral nature, the mode of composition, transmission including the performance and the source of the oral literature as central aspects in trying to understand the oral nature of literature/tradition. Along with the oral nature of these traditions, the contact and exchanges between the oral and the written will also be explored in order to holistically understand the oral cultures in the contemporary times.