Page 30 - Journeys C1 (Student Book)

History | Oral tradition

The Oral tradition is when knowledge, ideas and cultural beliefs are preserved in time by gathering
information from an older generation and passing it on to younger generations by way of the spoken word.
1 . It can be shared through storytelling, poetry, plays or song.

Clearly, reliance on the oral tradition led to the challenge of ensuring accurate transmission of information.
Various strategies arose to aid recall. Information was often carried in the form of verse, with a strict metre and
precise number of syllables, meaning that errors were easily noticeable. 2 .

Countries with a strong oral tradition included India, where Buddhist and Hindu scriptures were passed on by
way of chants. In Ancient Greece and the Middle East, folklore and legends were often delivered to wide-ranging
audiences by travelling actors and storytellers. Native America had an even stronger history of oral tradition,
as there was no writing system there until Europeans arrived. 3 . Law and
religion were similarly passed on orally. 4 . The Oral tradition still endures in
some countries, like Cameroon, where troupes known as “Graffis” deliver plays and speeches to preserve and
spread their cultural history.

These days, due to widespread use of the written word, oral tradition has lost its importance in most countries. We
tell stories for entertainment purposes only. 5 . Although the oral tradition
is, by nature, subjective, open to mistakes and out-dated, it still helps to bring about cultural unity and cohesion
within a group, and the fact that it is no longer central to community life is a great loss.

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