ORAL LITERATURE
ORAL LITERATURE: This is the type of literature which is expressed through oral expression. Folk tales, Legends, myths and Fables are examples of Oral literature.
Oral Literature is said to be the first form of literature because it began existing when human being started living together as a community with a common language for enhancing their communication.
Thus, with language people composed songs which were influential in their working hours.
As the time went on Oral Literature became a tool for refreshing and entertaining people during and after work, educating as well as shaping the society when the need arises.
Thus, Oral Literature has some connectedness with the human development in shaping and improving his environment.
That is to say, Oral Literature is a type of literature which is represented before the audience through a word of mouth.
OR; Is a type of literature which is represented before the audience in spoken form.
As it has been said that Oral Literature is transmitted through a word of mouth, therefore one cannot deny that Oral Literature began even before the invention of writings.
Currently, Oral Literature exists but it is most vivid in illiterate societies.
NB: By Oral Literature being in illiterate societies it does not mean that it is of no use rather Oral Literature is still beneficial in imparting some quick messages.
FEATURES OF ORAL LITERATURE.
a) It is passed through a word of mouth
b) It involves performance like dancing, clapping hands and singing
c) It involves both the performer and audience as both the narrator and listeners come together during the presentation.
d) It takes place in actual setting for instance during evening the folktales can be handed at home after work.
e) It is owned by the whole society as all society members the literate and illiterate individuals have chance to access it.
f) It adopts changes depending on time and place.
g) It is rich in characters because both human being and non-human characters are used in portraying the social realities.
h) It differs from one society or generation to another as it preserved on peoples memory.
i) It is rich in types.
j) It usually takes a moral lesson.
CATEGORIES OF ORAL LITERATURE.
Oral Literature is categories into different forms as it bases on the modes of presentation, performance, setting, the themes portrayed, language used as well as form.
To mention some few categories are as explained below:-
i) Folktale– This is a type of Oral Literature whereby parents narrates stories to their children and they are passed over generations.
ii) Myth– This is a type of Oral Literature which explains on the early history of a group of people, a natural event or a certain fact. For example every society has its myth on the creation of man.
iii) Legend– This is the type of Oral Literature in which the old stories about famous events or people are told. These stories are not always true. For example the story of Fumo Lyongo
iv) Anecdote– This is a type of Oral Literature which tells a short amusing story on what someone has done. For instance Mugabe’s freeing of Whites in Zimbabwe, Kinjekitile’s use of water in his war with Germans.
v) Fable– This is a type of Oral literature which takes a short story that tells on a general truth. Also, fables can partly base on fact only. Here the fable on the tortoise and the hare is a good example.
vi) Saying– This is a well known and wise statement but it usual carry the meaning which is different from the simple meanings given by the words it contains.
vii) Riddle– This is a puzzling question which is often asked to test the cleverness of the one expecting to solve it. Riddles have two parts the part of a statement or question asked by the narrator and the part of an answer which has to be replied by the listener.
viii) Proverb– This is a short and well known sentence which is given for imparting a moral lesson or advice. For example One finger cannot kill a louse, Unity is strength, Blood is heavy than water.
ix) Fairy tale– These are traditional stories passed to children. Usually these stories involve some imagery creatures and magic.
x) Idiom– This is a phrase which is made of words which convey a meaning which is different from the meaning that one can get from a word when it is in its own. For instance Kick the bucket, Pass away, bite the bullet.
ADVANTAGES OF ORAL LITERATURE.
i) It identify the society.
ii) It broadens people’s thinking
iii) It preserves and transmits people’s culture
iv) It educate people
v) It criticize people
vi) It influence people
vii) It develops language
viii) It creates employment to people
ix) It unites people
x) It encourages people
xi) It entertains people
IMPACTS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN ORAL LITERATURE.
1. It has changed the medium. The medium of oral literature was only words of mouth, but science and technology has brought some media such as books, journals and magazines, therefore it has transformed oral literature into writings.
2. The cost has increased. Because oral literature is now written or recorded on CDs or DVDs, tapes or televisions. It requires money for recording or writing therefore it has become costful.
3. It is no longer flexible. Once oral literature is recorded no changes can be made. Once it stored in tapes and CDs changes and some alterations to fit the audience becomes impossible.
4. Science and technology separate the audience from the narrator or storyteller. This is because the audience can buy his or her tape and watch or listen to it without a narrator or story teller. Before science and technology there was face to face interaction between the narrator and the audience.
5. The setting is not specific. Before science and technology there was a specific setting where the story teller met with the audience But science and technology has altered this situation, this is because the audience can read a book or watch a video anywhere. It can be in the room, in the class, on the bed, on the ground or even in the bus.
6. There is a delay of feedback. Because of the narrator and the audience are distant. The audience is not able to give out his or her feedback on time. Before science and technology, feedback took place during the performance or soon after the performance.
7. It has changed the storage. After science and technology, storage is now done in devices such CDs, tape recorders, video shootings and not in the human memory as it was before the invention of science and technology.
8. It has deprived the youths from the traditional oral narration, by parents and grandparents to modern western literature by watching western movies in the cinemas that’s why the youths have been totally destroyed by watching western literature most of which is immoral an unfit to African reality.
