An Integral Part of Oral Traditions in Keeping the Cultures Alive - Research Paper Example

Anthropology and Oral Tradition Paper Affiliation Anthropology and oral traditional paper Oral tradition is defined as the cultural material and tradition that is transmitted orally from one generation to another. The testimony or messages are transmitted verbally in speech or song taking the form of folktales, ballads, songs, sayings or chants. Through this forms it becomes easy and possible for the society to transmit oral literature, oral history, law and other knowledge across generations without have any writing systems. Oral traditions play an integral part in keeping the cultures and traditions alive. Nearly most types of oral traditions and terms that are similar in many communities; however, some are limited to some social groups. This essay will examine the concept of oral tradition the context at, which it is told and the role that it plays in the society. Performing verbal traditions is an occupation that is highly specialized where the community holds some special performers whom they regard to be guardians of collective memory. Since oral tradition is passed by the word of mouth, expressions and oral tradition differ significantly in their expression of the oral traditions. Stories are an amalgamation of many issues that differ from context to context, genre to genre and from entertainer to entertainer of improvisation, reproduction and creation. The amalgamation of the stories makes them colorful and vibrant form of expression (Benton-Banai, 2010). The stories are fragile because their practicability depends on a continuous chain passing their customs from one cohort of storyteller to another. Many societies such as the Aboriginal and Native Americans have relied upon the oral tradition on the transmission of stories, lessons, histories and other knowledge. They have continued this tradition to maintain their historical record and sustain their identities and cultures. The Iroquois are a Native American community that is rich in their oral tradition and they are proud of their culture and traditions. In North America, the American Indians were the only people living there before the Europeans explores decided to settle on their land in the 17th century. The Native Americans believed that they bought all sort of weapons and diseases that resulted in mass deaths. The Europeans treated Native Americans badly where they even took their land abusing and killing the people in the society (Hartz, 2009). The suffering of the Native Americans brought oral stories to help them sense if the world. This is because the events that took place in the nation seemed random such as natural disasters, which could only be explained using the Great Spirit and how he was not happy about the action of men. A good example of an oral tradition that has continued over the years is the story of why the owl has big eyes. In the Iroquois tradition, this story has been retold over and over fit, the needs of both the traditionalist and Christian Indians who changed their cultures after the European invaded the Native America community. In the story of “why the owl has big eyes,” Raweno in the story was the creator who was creating animals into their specifications and their likings. The Rabbit and the Owl were being created and as the rabbit was been created the owl was told not to look at what God was doing. He told God that nobody could forbid him to watch and nobody could order him to close his eyes and that he liked watching and he would continue watching. Raweno was angered by the comments that were made by owl that he pulled him from his branch. He stuffed his head into his body into his body, he shock him until his eyes grew big with fright. He further pulled at his ears until they stuck up both sides of his head. Rabbit on the other, hand became frightened with Raweno’s anger that he ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Raweno had not completed to make him leaving the rabbit with long hind legs. Due to his, fear Rabbit did not get any claws and fangs that he had asked from Raweno so that he could defend himself. Raweno gave the Owl the punishment of staying on top of everything and sleeping during the day and coming out at night (Bastian & Mitchell, 2004). The story is told in many versions where although the everything-maker punished the owl for his actions he gave him, wisdom at the price of having all the bad physical features. It has been indicated that the reason the Iroquois gave the story of the owl was solely that they lived in the woods and they were plenty of owls in the area; hence, making stories about them. The rituals that are associated with the story is that they give the account of creation in relation to Iroquois people is birth, aging where people grow up to become better people in the who obey the rules and regulations that have been set by the government. The story has two context that it can be told in where it can be told in a Christian’s context because it advocates for obedience. The story has a Christian basis because it refers Raweno as the superior being who punishes people if they disobey his commands. The Christian teachings are that people should obey God and always follow his commandments regardless of whether people do not comfortable about them. The other setting that the story can be discussed is in the traditional or cultural setting where people are required to obey their parents at all time. The main theme of the story is obedience and the consequences that result when people disobey (Jennings, 1995). Traditionally or in the Native American society they thought that natural calamities that cane with the Europeans were cause by Raweno’s anger towards his people because they had refused to obey his commandments. There are common variations in the oral tradition in the story in the sense that although the story originated from one community it keeps on changing depending on the context in which the story is been given. For example, one version of the story talks about obedience where the owl was punished because he refused to obey Raweno where he ended up being denied the features that he wanted. Another side of the same oral tradition indicates that he gave the owl all the wisdom that he needed although he punished him by making him to sleep during the day and work during the night when the Everything- maker was asleep. The oral tradition was and is significant to the Native American community in the sense that, it elaborates the need to obey the people who are above a person such as a parent and the government. This is because if a person fails to do so then they are faced with severe consequences sometimes too severe for them to handle. For example, when a person goes against the law they are bound to be punished through the rules and regulations that have been set by the government. Traditionally, if people refused to obey the set rules of the community and carry out their function in the right manner they would be banished from the community live in place where they could abide by their own laws. The oral traditional indicates that there is a supreme being who is the maker of the universe; hence, both living and non-living animals should obey him. Because failure to do so leads to consequences such as natural calamities as the Native Americans had experienced during the 17th and 18th century. In the Christian community the story of why the owl has big eyes has a moral lesson where the story indicates that God has a voice in people’s lives and when he talks to them they should be ready to listen to his commands (Pulitano, 2003). By so doing, there will be fewer consequences than those given to the owl. Additionally, the story indicates that it is not good to fear because through fear people miss the important things that are intended for them by the deity. There are some similarities between this oral tradition on the Native American society and that of the African community. Where in the African society an Owl is considered an animal that is cursed because it is ugly and comes at night to take away life. Where when people in the African community hear the Owl crying outside they believe that it is the angel of death and they through some salt in fire to ensure that the omen that is brought by the owl does not work. Therefore, in the African traditional community the owl is associated with bad things same as in the Native American society. There are similar oral traditions in my own culture where the rabbit is considered a good animal, and the owl is considered as the bearer of evil. The owl is a feared animal where even the sight or the name of the owl gives people some Goosebumps. The oral tradition is still in use contemporary although it has changed in the sense that instead of it being told orally it is told through literature books that teach students about their culture. This is because the world has evolved and people do not rely on traditional storytellers to tell them about their culture as they rely on secondary sources. Additionally, people who used to give these stories are no longer alive and the version that might be given to the newer generation is distorted to fit their own needs. In conclusion, oral tradition is vital to any community regardless of whether there have been technological advancements. This is because oral traditions give people an account of their roots, as well as, moral lessons that they should learn as they grow up, which will in turn help them in the future. Therefore, although the context of the oral tradition is not similar to what it used to be in the past as it is either embedded in the internet or literature books it still serves it purpose. References Bastian, D. E., & Mitchell, J. K. (2004). Handbook of Native American mythology. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO. Benton-Banai, E. (2010). The Mishomis book: The voice of the Ojibway. Hartz, P. (2009). Native American religions. New York: Chelsea House Publishers. Jennings, F. (1995). The history and culture of Iroquois diplomacy: An interdisciplinary guide to the treaties of the six nations and their league. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press. Pulitano, E. (2003). Toward a Native American critical theory. Lincoln, Neb. [u.a.: Univ. of Nebraska Press. Read More