ALT 301 Theory & Methods in Oral Literature Notes Sample Document

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THEORY AND METHODS IN ORAL LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION TO ORAL LITERATURE, GENRES, FUNCTIONS AND

CHARACTERISTICS
WHAT IS ORAL LITERATURE

Oral literature is a genre of literature. It is formed by compound oral and literature to mean
literature communicated by word mouth. There has been controversy as to what oral literature
is and this has led to it being labeled differently. There is semantic paradox in the term
Oral- by mouth
Literature- written
Some protest that it is a contradiction; however the term oral literature is acceptable if one takes
literature to be more than just written material.
According to Okot P. Bitok, literature is a creative works of man expressed in language
Others prefer to call it folklore but this implies primitivity –unreal
It is more than creative since it implies life primitive society (not literary)
All this includes- material culture
-religion
Customs and belief
There is more than just literature in oral tradition
Religion ,politics, customs etc are included here
Anything that by word of mouth is included and it is not restricted to literary material.
Tradition also implies that it is static- passed from generation to generation without change
Tradition also implies collectivity, yet we know that literature involves individual creativity
(Does this make tradition a fallacy?)
Website: maktaba.elab.co.ke WhatsApp: +254 115 219 324 Email: info@elab.co.ke

Fallacy- a false or mistaken belief, false reasoning or argument.
Oral literature exists at several levels. These are
Folklore
This is a body of knowledge, traditions customs, beliefs, practices and the oral
literature of a community that is handed down through traditions.
Oral performance
This is a verbal art i.e. with aesthetic form whether man made or artificial but orally
transmitted.
ORATURE- this is a term coined by some scholars (Austin Bukenya and Piozirima) 1970 so as
to make oral literature have one original look
Speech- writing
Oracy- literacy
Orate- literate
Orature- literature
The term as not been term accepted, due to the fact that we must insist on the literature
Orature is closed linked with oration- speaking in public- which is not the interest here
Verbal arts –refers to oral and creativity
It is acceptable, but does include drama and poetry which is recited- hence not suitable
Oral literature is essence refers to a creative process which can only be fully appreciated during
the life execution
Creativity- performance- transmission- composition (all of these are oral)
The main criterion is defining oral literature is creativity
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Linguistic creativity
The creative process consists of three main stages
- Observation
- Imagination
- Expression
The artist closely observes the world noting the natural and social phenomena
The artist then relates observation to experience looks for relationships in the world, plus other
people’s world
The artist uses language to express these observations carefully, to communicate well considers:
She who does not want to love Njambi, let her take down the moon and si on it, let her take a
cobra and brush her teeth with it.
The 3 ingredients of creating a present here
Oral lit eratu re is spoken, acted (performed) art whose media is spoken language,
Bukenya&Odaga.
As a genre of oral literature, short forms possess the following; a re defined as those utterances
whether spoken, recited, song whose composition or performance exhibit to an appreciable
degree the artistic characteristics of an accurate observation, vivid imagination an unique
expression. They therefore are characterized as:
1. Orally spoken.
2. Orally created by the society.
3. Orally imagined.
4. Orally performed.
Short forms
This is a common name that is used to refer proverbs, riddles, tongue twisters, jokes
and popular sayings. Leteipa and OkunibaMiruka in their book "Oral L iterature
Dictionary" defines these terms as different forms with distinct roles in oral literature.
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A proverb is defined here as "A terse" compact pithy statement of popular wisdom
accepted as an impression of truth. In simple English a proverb has severa l
descriptions; short familiar expressing truth or amoral lesson[Chambers 20 th century
Dictionary sentence], ,a short saying of wisdom in general language ,[Akivaga et al],
and is summarized as a brief statement full of hidden meaning ,accepted and used by a
community as an expression of truth and wisdom, j Okumba Miruka,[2004}Encounter
with oral literature]
While in oral literature by Akivaga, proverbs are collections of the experiences of people
and acquired through knowledge or learning e.g. proverbs ar e a revelation to what people
adore and despise and also reveals their attitude in life.
• Proverbs are transmitted from one generation to the other, and Okumba
• While Akivaga cites them as important because they are used to teach, ridicule,
caution and advice the audience or those listening to them. They have aesthetic
value as they are entertaining to listen to.
• Proverbs draw their material or information from those particular societies or
environments in which they are recited.
• They communicate deeper meaning to their audience as compared to ordinary or

day to day language.
• Proverbs reveal the social classes of people e.g. they are commonly used by
elders, leaders.
The Giriama have a proverb "Nzoru karemezwa ni pebeze" meaning "An elephant
carries its ov/n tasks". This proverb can l">e applied to a deaf person who is always
conscious when someone touches the ear to be laughing at him. However with
education, this has been minimized.
Proverbs are classified in many ways according to Okumba. These include;
i. Epigrammatic proverbs-which are longer and draws analogies between
phenomena and consists of two parts.
ii. Normative proverbs which reinforce ethics in the society.
iii. Communicative proverbs that are used as embellishment to speech.
iv. Proverbs as authority.
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v. Reflective proverbs that reflects on communal attitudes, through processes and

world view.
vi. Summative proverbs which summarize issues even narratives.
vii. Proverbs that worn on pride and arrogance.
viii. Proverbs on fate where has no power to control.
ix. Proverbs that are cautionary.
Proverbs are classified according to their functions and themes. Though related to riddles,
proverbs are generally performed following certain conventions within in a formal
structure.
This proverb can be used in a situation where somebody falls sic k or becomes disabled
and is unable to walk or work, or where a person is born with some impairment which
she or he is unable to accept.
Ngirepe Lakwa rotua Kalenjin Ket (Nandi)
If you take a knife from a child, give him a piece of wood instead.
This proverb is commonly used to suggest that if you have to do an unpleasant duty which
will hurt somebody else do it as gently as possible.
CLASSIFICATION
Different authors have different ways of classifying proverbs. Okumba classifies them in the
following categories.
(a) Proverbs on fate.
(b) Cautionary proverbs.
(c) Proverbs warning against pride and arrogance.
(d) Proverbs on communal life.
(e) Proverbs as embellishment to speech, (communication)
(f) Proverbs as authority.
(g) Proverbs as co-operation.
(h) Normative proverbs i.e. those that serve to reinforce what the community's
considers to be desirable patterns of behavior.
(i) Reflective proverbs - those that mirror the community's attitudes thought
processes and world view.
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(j) Summative proverbs - those that are longer, draw analogies between phenomena
and consist of two parts.
Most classification systems are thematic and functional schemes. Proverbs unlike
riddles which are generally performed within a formalistic structure and following
certain conventions are used quite informally in speech (although there are some
communities in Kenya where proverbs are exchanged in formal verbal contests)
Although there is hardly any hard and fast convention determining who should or
should not use proverbs, it should be realized that proverbs are predominantly used by;
(a) The elderly members of the community.
(b) Public figures such as leaders, teachers, preachers, politicians.
(c) Artists such as musicians and authors and playwrights.
Proverbs are most widespread a most respected genre of African oral Literature. Simple
in everyday conversations, proverbs are used. Many elites, politicians, judicial and
religious discussions are conducted but settled through proverbs. A person who knows
how to quote an apt proverb is likely to come out the winner in any debate or argument
academic or social. In oral literature proverbs are generously used in narratives, songs
and recited poems.
In recognition of central role of proverbs and sayings in all our spoken communication,
e.g. the Agikuyu refers to them by saying: "ciunagwo rukomo, kimenyi, akamenya
ikiunuo" -" we speak by proverbs, he who is intelligent, let him understand". This
brings as to the characteristics of proverbs as;
➢ Shortness, terseness or brevity.
➢ Truth, freedom, meaning or pithiness
➢ Obscurity, indirect or gnomic nature.
➢ Relative inn viability of form.
➢ Acceptance and usage by a community.
When truth is elusive it is proverbs that we use to discover it.
Owe is Yoruba word for proverb. The Marakwet call them Mwaut, the Agikuyu thimo, while
the Maasai refer to them as ndungeta.. .e..rashe, the Luo calls them ngero and the Abaluhya
refers to them as chisimo and the Swahili as methali.
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Imagery is seen as the strongest point in proverbs that is, the ability to comment
convincingly on a situation through the use of accurate figures of speech. Proverbs draw
their images from various sources like Flora and Fauna, people's habits, customs,
occupation and beliefs, social and political institutions and other forms of oral
literature.
There are two factors which contribute to the strength of proverbs. These are: the choice
of words in the proverb and secondly, the structure or shape of the proverb which is
usually very special. They are chosen because of their sound; because of what they
mean and because of what they suggest. Many words appear only in proverbs and you
would not find them easily in any other uses of language e.g. the Luo proverb "Jatelo
ogongo gwaro", it is specifically used to encourage a leader during inauguration or a
crisis but not in everyday life.
The words Lila and Fila are rarely used in ordinary Kiswahili language. Okumba
Miruka in his book, Studying oral literature, says that sometimes the expression wise
saying is used to mean same thing as proverbs a point that Bukenya and Nandwa in Oral
Literature Senior Course agree with. Nandwa however argues that the main difference
between proverbs and wise sayings lies in their structure. Proverbs have clearly defined
parts of preposition and completion. Sayings on the other hand are short expressions or
phrases which are informally included and incorporated into ordinary speech. We
however recognize them as form of oral literature because they show creativity
especially in their choice words, their imagery, and their appraisal or assessment of
situations. Sayings are instrumental in giving aesthesism and liveliness to narratives,
conversations and other forms utterance.
Most songs and recitations are in fact, made of strings of saying. Sayings are often used
as euphemisms. A euphemisms is an expression which uses gentle, soft term of simple
plain words which would be brutal, embarrassing or shocking.
Among the Masai, they would refer to a man interfering with other people's affair by saying
"Meisuoloo alowuaru olkojita" meaning "a hypocrite will not go for lon g without being
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detected"
Some proverbs are factual and educative e.g. the Luo proverb "Kinda ne omiyo opuk
oyombo apwoyo" - "persistence made the tortoise outrace the hare" literary, hare is
faster but here confidence and persistence wins.
ORAL LITERATURE: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Writing like painting, sculpting is merely a tool for expressing ideas
Oral is basic and ideas are oralised in the mind
All human being, literate or orate are capable of creating and appreciating oral literature
The first challenge is that oral literature is not worth studying at all- writing as taken root and is
more reliable
In human society , over 90% of communication is oral.
If oral literature is a an expression of society’s values, society’s reality and creations .When a lot
of that literature is oral and only part of it is written
To look at only written literature is to be elitist

We’re making literature serve only a particular class in society
Elite- often derogatory- a group considered to be the best or most important because of there
power, talent ,wealth etc
A good study should involve all people, not just the elite
The second challenge is classification
Classification Marakwet
Stories Atinon
Orge stories Kimagetoi
Parables- Kaleweron
Riddles- Tiangu
8
Proverbs- mwakt
Circumcision and ceremonial – tum
Men’s songs - Kerongo
In Kiganda
Elgero- stories
Enfuno- stories with songs
Ebiwanuuzibwa – legends and myths.
There is a clash between the academic aspect help in analysis and is accommodating while the
generic retains culture and is authentic but does not descend boundaries
What is oral literature in indigenous languages like luo, kikuyu etc
Kiswahili- fasihi simulizi
There is a cultural, linguistic and artistic problem

1. culture- difficult to translate cultural aspect may not be easily translatable
e.g issue of brother, going back to funeral, wife inheritance
2. Linguistic- there’s no equivalent in mother tongue
3. Artistic- the sound and rhythm is lost
The sweetness is lost- aesthetic value is lost
The solution is to learn the language of the originator
Deep bush fallancy-belief that oral lit can only be drawn from and applied to the deep bush
-irrelevance to modern times and urban areas

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elab notes library

THEORY AND METHODS IN ORAL LITERATURE

INTRODUCTION TO ORAL LITERATURE, GENRES, FUNCTIONS AND

WHAT IS ORAL LITERATURE

According to Okot P. Bitok, literature is a creative works of man expressed in language

Others prefer to call it folklore but this implies primitivity –unreal

Customs and belief

There is more than just literature in oral tradition

Religion ,politics, customs etc are included here

(Does this make tradition a fallacy?)

Website: maktaba.elab.co.ke WhatsApp: +254 115 219 324 Email: info@elab.co.ke

Fallacy- a false or mistaken belief, false reasoning or argument.

Oral literature exists at several levels. These are

Verbal arts –refers to oral and creativity

Creativity- performance- transmission- composition (all of these are oral)

The main criterion is defining oral literature is creativity

The creative process consists of three main stages

The 3 ingredients of creating a present here

• They communicate deeper meaning to their audience as compared to ordinary or

v. Reflective proverbs that reflects on communal attitudes, through processes and

ORAL LITERATURE: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Oral is basic and ideas are oralised in the mind

In human society , over 90% of communication is oral.

To look at only written literature is to be elitist

The second challenge is classification

Orge stories Kimagetoi

Circumcision and ceremonial – tum

Men’s songs - Kerongo

Enfuno- stories with songs

Ebiwanuuzibwa – legends and myths.

What is oral literature in indigenous languages like luo, kikuyu etc

Kiswahili- fasihi simulizi

There is a cultural, linguistic and artistic problem

e.g issue of brother, going back to funeral, wife inheritance

2. Linguistic- there’s no equivalent in mother tongue

3. Artistic- the sound and rhythm is lost

The sweetness is lost- aesthetic value is lost

The solution is to learn the language of the originator

-irrelevance to modern times and urban areas

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