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[[Orality]], [[Manuscript Culture]], [[Print Culture]], and [[Information Age]]]]'''Oral tradition''' or '''oral culture''' is a way for a society to transmit [[oral history|history]], [[orature|literature]], [[oral law|law]] or other knowledge across generations without a [[writing system]]. An example that combined aspects of [[oral literature]] and [[oral history]], before eventually being set down in writing, is the [[Homer]]ic [[epic poetry]] of the ''[[Iliad]]'' and the ''[[Odyssey]]''. In a general sense, "oral tradition" refers to the transmission of [[culture|cultural]] material through vocal utterance, and was long held to be a key descriptor of [[folklore]] (a criterion no longer rigidly held by all folklorists). As an [[academic discipline]], it refers both to a [[Scientific method|method]] and the objects studied by the method.   

[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]] [[Image:Venus&cupid.jpg|right|frame|<center>"Venus and Cupid"</center>]]

 

 

'''Oral tradition''' or '''oral culture''' is a way for a society to transmit [[oral history|history]], [[orature|literature]], [[oral law|law]] or other knowledge across generations without a [[writing system]]. An example that combined aspects of [[oral literature]] and [[oral history]], before eventually being set down in writing, is the [[Homer]]ic [[epic poetry]] of the ''[[Iliad]]'' and the ''[[Odyssey]]''. In a general sense, "oral tradition" refers to the transmission of [[culture|cultural]] material through vocal utterance, and was long held to be a key descriptor of [[folklore]] (a criterion no longer rigidly held by all folklorists). As an [[academic discipline]], it refers both to a [[Scientific method|method]] and the objects studied by the method.   

The study of oral tradition is distinct from the academic discipline of [[oral history]], which is the recording of personal memories and histories of those who experienced historical eras or events.  It is also distinct from the study of [[orality]], which can be defined as [[thought]] and its verbal expression in societies where the technologies of [[literacy]] (especially writing and print) are unfamiliar to most of the population.

The study of oral tradition is distinct from the academic discipline of [[oral history]], which is the recording of personal memories and histories of those who experienced historical eras or events.  It is also distinct from the study of [[orality]], which can be defined as [[thought]] and its verbal expression in societies where the technologies of [[literacy]] (especially writing and print) are unfamiliar to most of the population.

===History of the study of oral tradition===

===History of the study of oral tradition===

His massive bibliographical enterprise would establish a clear underlying methodology which accounted for the findings of scholars working in the separate linguistic fields (primarily [[Ancient Greek]], Anglo-Saxon and Serbo-Croatian).  Perhaps more importantly, it would stimulate conversation among these specialties, so that a network of independent but allied investigations and investigators could be established.  

His massive bibliographical enterprise would establish a clear underlying methodology which accounted for the findings of scholars working in the separate linguistic fields (primarily [[Ancient Greek]], Anglo-Saxon and Serbo-Croatian).  Perhaps more importantly, it would stimulate conversation among these specialties, so that a network of independent but allied investigations and investigators could be established.  

Foley’s key works include ''The Theory of Oral Composition'' (1988); John Miles Foley.  ''The Theory of Oral Composition:  History and Methodology''.  Indiana University Press, Bloomington and Indianapolis, 1988. ''Immanent Art'' (1991); ''Traditional Oral Epic: The Odyssey, Beowulf and the Serbo-Croatian Return-Song'' (1993); ''The Singer of Tales in Performance'' (1995); ''Teaching Oral Traditions'' (1998); ''How to Read an Oral Poem'' (2002). His [http://www.pathwaysproject.org/pathways/show/HomePage Pathways Project] (2006-) draws parallels between the media dynamics of oral traditions and the internet.

Foley’s key works include ''The Theory of Oral Composition'' (1988); John Miles Foley.  ''The Theory of Oral Composition:  History and Methodology''.  Indiana University Press, Bloomington and Indianapolis, 1988. ''Immanent Art'' (1991); ''Traditional Oral Epic: The Odyssey, Beowulf and the Serbo-Croatian Return-Song'' (1993); ''The Singer of Tales in Performance'' (1995); ''Teaching Oral Traditions'' (1998); ''How to Read an Oral Poem'' (2002). His [https://www.pathwaysproject.org/pathways/show/HomePage Pathways Project] (2006-) draws parallels between the media dynamics of oral traditions and the internet.

==An Expanding Discipline==

==An Expanding Discipline==

==See also==

==See also==

* [[Orality]]

* [[Orality]]

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.interdisciplines.org/defispublicationweb/papers/6 Back to the Oral Tradition]

* [https://www.interdisciplines.org/defispublicationweb/papers/6 Back to the Oral Tradition]

* [http://www.oraltradition.org The Center for Studies in Oral Tradition]

* [https://www.oraltradition.org The Center for Studies in Oral Tradition]

* [http://www.chs.harvard.edu/mpc/ The Milman Parry Collection of Oral Literature Online]

* [https://www.chs.harvard.edu/mpc/ The Milman Parry Collection of Oral Literature Online]

* [http://journal.oraltradition.org/ Oral Tradition Journal]

* [https://journal.oraltradition.org/ Oral Tradition Journal]

* [http://epress.lib.uh.edu/pr/v2/n1/harnad.2n1 Post-Gutenberg Galaxy]

* [https://epress.lib.uh.edu/pr/v2/n1/harnad.2n1 Post-Gutenberg Galaxy]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]