ORAL AND WRITTEN LITERATURE

 ORAL AND WRITTEN LITERATURE

ORAL LITERATURE

Activity.

Oral literature is literature that was or is expressed by word of mouth. Do you remember the traditional stories your grandparents, aunties and mothers used to tell you when you were young; they are good examples of oral literature. Share with your neighbor any of the stories that you recall, and prepare to make a presentation to the class about one that you loved so much. Oral literature sometimes referred to as folk literature is literature that is spoken or sung as opposed to that which is written. However much of oral literature has been transcribed. Oral literature is characterized by oral transmission. Oral literature is traced far in the pre- literate societies, since written literature was not available in that era. However even to date, oral literature is still active and it’s very essential in our society.

Activity.

 What are (is) the difference between oral and written literature? 

. CHARACTERISTICS OF ORAL LITERATURE.

Even though some of the characteristics below maybe similar to those in written literature, in oral literature, they are more unique.

They include performance, verbal variability, audience and dynamism. Let’s explain them below.

1. Verbal variability. You will notice that each oral artist performs a common text in an individual way. Even if the oral narrative is well know, each artist will perform it in a given way by adding some information and removing other segments. This is influenced by the artist skills at composition and improvisation. It’s also determined by the audience and the purpose of a performance. Therefore each performance is regarded as original.

2. Performance. This is the most basic characteristic of oral literature. Oral literature is dependent on a performer who formulates it in words accompanied with actions on a specific occasion.

3. Audience. In normal circumstances, there can be no performance without audience to participate in it. This does not discount the songs we sing to ourselves as we work. Nevertheless, in oral literature, a physical audience is required to be present and allowed to take part actively or passively basing on the conventions of the performance. An artist is always face to face with the audience.

4. Oral literature is dynamic. Oral literature as a product of the process of convergence between an individual, willed creativity and communal life can never be irrelevant. As a creation of the society, oral literature changes with time to accommodate the new challenges. Not long ago, oral literature focused on morals, but nowadays, themes in oral literature have expanded to cater for issues like AIDS, conflicts, tragedies accompanied with use of modern day technology.

Note. So long as men and women live and they have the power of speech, they will create and render their thoughts verbally. Therefore oral literature shall never die. It can suffer neglect.