Oral-Formulaic Theory: Annotated Bibliography

John R. Goody. "Alternative Paths to Knowledge in Oral and Literate Cultures." In Spoken and Written Language: Exploring Orality and Literacy. Ed. Deborah Tannen. Advances in Discourse Processes, vol. 9. Norwood: Ablex. pp. 201-15.

Identifies three modes of acquiring knowledge among the LoDagaa and in other oral societies: (1) the learning that goes on in the experience of everyday life, (2) tenkouri yil, a specialized knowledge resulting from participation in ceremonies and discussion with elders, and (3) that transcendent form of information that one comes by spiritually. In literate societies this last form is relevant only to the arts and religion, and no longer practical in any sense. By "learning" literate societies usually mean "book-learning," while experiential training is accomplished by apprenticeship and imitation.
Area: AF, CP