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Oral tradition: meaning, definitions and examples

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oral tradition

[ ˈɔːrəl trəˈdɪʃən ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

cultural heritage

The transmission of cultural material and knowledge from one generation to another through spoken words, stories, songs, or proverbs. Oral traditions play a crucial role in preserving the history, customs, beliefs, and values of a community.

Synonyms

oral history, spoken tradition, verbal tradition.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
oral tradition	Used to refer to stories, songs, and narratives passed down through generations verbally. Many ancient cultures rely on oral tradition to preserve their heritage
oral history	Refers to the collection and study of historical information using interviews with people having personal knowledge of past events. The museum conducted oral history projects to document veterans' experiences
verbal tradition	Encompasses the broader concept of conveying information orally, often used in a more general sense. Verbal tradition plays a significant role in the dissemination of folklore around the world
spoken tradition	Similar to oral tradition, but emphasizes the act of speaking and the performance aspect. In many Indigenous communities, the spoken tradition is crucial for teaching young members about their ancestry

Examples of usage

Many indigenous tribes rely on oral tradition to pass down their history and legends.
Oral tradition is an important aspect of African cultural heritage.
The preservation of oral traditions is essential for maintaining cultural identity.

Translations

Translations of the word "oral tradition" in other languages:

🇵🇹 tradição oral

🇮🇳 मौखिक परंपरा

🇩🇪 mündliche Überlieferung

🇮🇩 tradisi lisan

🇺🇦 усна традиція

🇵🇱 tradycja ustna

🇯🇵 口承伝統 (こうしょうでんとう)

🇫🇷 tradition orale

🇪🇸 tradición oral

🇹🇷 sözlü gelenek

🇰🇷 구전 전통 (gudeon jeontong)

🇸🇦 تقاليد شفهية

🇨🇿 ústní tradice

🇸🇰 ústna tradícia

🇨🇳 口头传统 (kǒutóu chuántǒng)

🇸🇮 ustna tradicija

🇮🇸 munnleg hefð

🇰🇿 ауызекі дәстүр

🇬🇪 ზეპირი ტრადიცია

🇦🇿 şifahi ənənə

🇲🇽 tradición oral

Etymology

The concept of oral tradition dates back to ancient civilizations, where stories, myths, and knowledge were passed down orally from generation to generation. Before the invention of writing systems, oral tradition was the primary method of preserving cultural heritage. Even in modern times, many cultures around the world continue to rely on oral traditions to maintain their unique identities and histories. The significance of oral tradition in preserving cultural knowledge has been recognized by scholars and anthropologists, leading to efforts to document and study these rich traditions.