Oral Traditions: Method to Adoptation of Construction of the History of Non-Literate Tribes

Abstract

Studies in oral tradition, covering on contemporary field works are making evident of the profound relationship between oral tradition practitioners and stakeholders give us live to as human beings. This article seeks to explore the emerging field of oral tradition method and various forms of cultural expression in the study of humankind experience in both past and present non-literate tribes. The ways we are shaped by education as well by training significantly influence the ways we understand and interpret the worldview of the non-literate societies. The cultural expression and manifestations are strongly embedded and internalised which often eluded researcher making them to present inaccurate and misnomer interpretation of the indigenous people. The article also attempts to study a technique and methods with interdisciplinary focus for studies in oral tradition of the non-literate tribes, as an alternative methodology for historical research. This would definitely depart from conventional method of research so far employed on to investigate, interpret and analyses the tribes’ histories of North East India. In this endeavour, researcher will get a firsthand knowledge of incorporating legends, fairy tales, folklores, folksongs, music, mythology, rhapsodies and all facets of storytelling into construction of the history of nonliterate tribes. Such investigation will establish the linkage between verbal communication and cultural objects maintained by the people as fund of knowledge for the posterity.