primary orality
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Brass In Pocket
The song "Brass in Pocket", which came out in November 79 changed everything for The Pretenders. A joint composition by Chrissie Hynde and guitarist James Honeyman Scott, it was so successful that it actually altered people's perceptions of the group's name : they were still Pretenders, but no longer pretending as in unending make believe; they were now pretenders as in contenders for the crown. Hope you like this latest piece in the Songsmiths series.
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The Card Sharp
When telling a story, it is essential to create an audience who feel compelled to pay attention. In exploring the theme of The Oral Tradition recently, certain memories have popped up which show how instructive everyday situations can be in developing an understanding of how this tradition works. Here's a memory of a card-sharp (or card-shark, if you prefer) from when I was 7 or 8 years old.
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Making people listen
This is a story about primary orality : thought and expression untouched by the culture of writing or print. There are places where language takes root, grows and generally has a field-day. Street markets are full of people who use language to make us listen. Want to know more about the price of cabbages and today's unbeatable offer on sheets and towels? Read on, dear reader.
