HI 368, Oral Histories in Tanzania: Theory
Topic 1: Basic definitions and identification of
typologies
• Definition of terms
CULTURE
According to Edward TYLOR (1871), a British
Anthropologist, CULTURE is “knowledge, belief, art,
morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and
habits acquired by man or a member of society.”
typologies
• Definition of terms
CULTURE
According to Edward TYLOR (1871), a British
Anthropologist, CULTURE is “knowledge, belief, art,
morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and
habits acquired by man or a member of society.”
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Page 1 of 114
HI 368, Oral Histories in
Tanzania: Theory
DR. SAANANE, C. (Dr. phil. nat. magnum cum laude).
UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM.
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Topic 1: Basic definitions and identification of
typologies
• Definition of terms
CULTURE
According to Edward TYLOR (1871), a British
Anthropologist, CULTURE is “knowledge, belief, art,
morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and
habits acquired by man or a member of society.”
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• TRADITION
• 1a: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought,
action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom)b: a
belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that
are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable
• 2: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of
mouth or by example from one generation to another without
written instruction
• 3: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions
• 4: characteristic manner, method or style<in the best liberal
tradition>
• traditional play\-ˈdish-nəl, -ˈdi-shə-nl\adjective
• traditionally adverb
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• syn·o·nym
• (sĭn′ə-nĭm′)
• n.
• 1. A word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or other words in a language.
• 2. A word or expression that serves as a figurative or symbolic substitute for another:
• 3. Biology One of two or more scientific names that have been applied to the same species or other taxonomic group.
• [Middle English sinonyme, from Old French synonyme, from Latin synōnymum, from Greek sunōnumon, from neuter ofsunōnumos,
synonymous; see synonymous.]
• syn′o·nym′ic, syn′o·nym′i·cal adj.
• syn′o·nym′i·ty n.
•
• synonym
• (ˈsɪnəˌnɪm)
• n
• 1. (Linguistics) a word that means the same or nearly the same as another word, such as bucket and pail
• 2. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a word or phrase used as another name for something, such as Hellene for a Greek
• 3. (Biology) biology a taxonomic name that has been superseded or rejected
• [C16: via Late Latin from Greek sunōnumon, from syn- + onoma name]
• ˌsynoˈnymic, ˌsynoˈnymical ad
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• Oral testimonies and Oral Traditions
• They are distinct due to methodological and practical implications
• In the mostly quoted volume ‘Oral Tradition as History,’ Jan Vansina specifies
oral testimonies as statements made by people about events and situations
that took place in "their life time.”
• Oral testimonies include eyewitness accounts, reminiscences, and hear say
(Vansina, 1995: 12), classically collected though interviews or by listening to
oral accounts.
• In contrast, "oral tradition" refers to information or messages transmitted
orally "beyond the generation which gave rise to them" (Vansina, 1985: 13).
• Oral traditions exist in several different forms, including "memorised
traditions" like prayers and "formalised speeches" like epic (classic) and
standardised narratives.
•
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• Custom
• (kŭs′təm)
• noun
1.a. A traditional practice or usual way
of doing something followed by a social group or people.
b. The tradition or body of such practices:
The respect that is by custom accorded to the king.
2.a. A habitual practice of a person: my custom of reading a little before sleep.
b. Habitual manner or practice: I am not by custom a coffee drinker.
3. Law a common tradition or usage
so long established that it has the force or validity of law.
4. Habitual patronage, as of a store: tried to obtain the custom of the wealthiest shoppers.
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• 5. customs
a. Duties or taxes imposed on imported and, less commonly, exported goods.
b. (used with a sing. verb) The governmental agency authorized
to collect these duties.
c. (used with a sing. verb) The procedure for inspecting goods and baggage entering
a country: go through customs.
6. Tribute, service, or rent paid by a feudal tenant to a lord.
• adjective
1. Made to order: custom suits.
2. Specializing in the making or selling of made-to-order goods: a custom tailor.
[Middle English custume, from Old French costume, from Latin cōnsuētūdō, cōnsuēt
ūdin-, from cōnsuētus, pastparticiple of cōnsuēscere, to accustom : com-
, intensive pref.; see com- + suēscere, to become accustomed; see s(w)e-in Indo-
European roots.]
•
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• ritual
• [rich-oo-uh l]
• noun
• 1. an established or prescribed procedure for a religious or other rite.
• 2.a system or collection of religious or other rites.
• 3.observance of set forms in public worship.
• 4. a book of rites or ceremonies.
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