LakotaArchives.com - Native American Oral Literature 10

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Native American Articles

An Overview of Native American Oral Literature::

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An Overview of Native American Oral Literature::

Ritual Language

A feature of ritual oral narrative is its frequent employment of an archaic 'occult' language by shamans. Frequently within a ritual context, a sacred language is employed by shamans. Among the Chippewa, for example, a special ancient language was used in the Midé or Medicine songs - a language rendered meaningless by literal, English translations (Densmore 1910).¹

Similarly, Sioux medicine persons differentiate between sacred language and vision talk, both of which compose a specialised ritual language. Sacred language is the form of language used between medicine persons, vision talk is the language employed between the medicine person and the spirits. Both types are incomprehensible to the common people (Powers 1986).²

Notes::

1 - Frances Densmore, ed. 1910. "Chippewa Music." Bulletin of the Bureau of American Ethnology 45.
2 - William K. Powers. 1986. Sacred Language: The Nature of Supernatural Discourse in Lakota. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.









Native American Articles An Overview of Native American Oral Literature:: Introduction One Definition of American Indian Literature Historical and Cultural Contexts The Power of Words and Other Symbols Common Themes: Nature Common Themes: Circularity Common Themes: Improvisation Common Themes: Memorisation Transmission of Oral Texts Ritual Language Songs and Prayers Myths: The Importance of Storytelling Myths: Categories of Myths or Stories Myths: Myths of Creation Myths: Trickster-Transformer Tales Lakota Sioux Trickster Tale Print Entire Article		An Overview of Native American Oral Literature:: Ritual Language A feature of ritual oral narrative is its frequent employment of an archaic 'occult' language by shamans. Frequently within a ritual context, a sacred language is employed by shamans. Among the Chippewa, for example, a special ancient language was used in the Midé or Medicine songs - a language rendered meaningless by literal, English translations (Densmore 1910).¹ Similarly, Sioux medicine persons differentiate between sacred language and vision talk, both of which compose a specialised ritual language. Sacred language is the form of language used between medicine persons, vision talk is the language employed between the medicine person and the spirits. Both types are incomprehensible to the common people (Powers 1986).² Notes:: 1 - Frances Densmore, ed. 1910. "Chippewa Music." Bulletin of the Bureau of American Ethnology 45. 2 - William K. Powers. 1986. Sacred Language: The Nature of Supernatural Discourse in Lakota. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. © 2002 by Bornali Halder Next>>>>

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