Investigating oral traditions

Author : Margaret Florey

Publication date : 2006

Bibliographical references :

Florey, Margaret. 2000. Oral Traditions Questionnaire. for the 2000 East Nusantara Linguistics Workshop, workshop on oral traditions.

Goals

"The questions below which participants are asked to address for the language(s) with which they work, are aimed at:
• determining the range and distribution of genres of oral traditions throughout the region
• and examining
• the function(s) of genres
• structural features (such as parallelism)
• aspects of composition and performance
• ownership of knowledge and constraints on speech
• transmission (maintenance and loss) of oral traditions." (Florey, 2006: 1)

 

Protocol summary

The questionnaire is divided in 9 sections :

1. The language
2. Genres of oral traditions
3. Function
4. Structure
5. Speech levels
6. Composers and composition
7. performance and performers
8. Change
9. Issues about recording oral traditions

Development context

"This questionnaire was originally compiled for the 2000 East Nusantara Linguistics Workshop, held 21-23 July 2000 at the Australian National University, Canberra. The questionnaire was distributed to participants who were asked to complete it and submit their responses to the organisers prior to the workshop. The completed responses formed the basis for discussion in a day-long session. The questionnaire is based on features known or thought to occur in the languages of the East Nusantara region, which includes eastern Indonesia, East Timor, and Papua." (Florey, 2006: 1)

For other questionnaires developed for the same workshop, see :

• Bowden, John. 2000. "Language contact in East Nusantara". for the 2000 East Nusantara Linguistics Workshop, workshop on language contact.
• Engelenhoven, Aone van. 2000. "Deixis and Location". for the 2000 East Nusantara Linguistics Workshop, workshop on deixis
• Klamer, Marian. 2000. "Valency Questionaire". for the 2000 East Nusantara Linguistics Workshop, workshop on valency.