Joel Sherzer Bücher

Classic case studies surveying the use, role and function of language and speech in social life.

Exploring the diverse verbal performances within a single Native American society, this book delves into the rich tapestry of cultural expressions, storytelling, and oral traditions. It highlights the unique linguistic practices and their significance in preserving heritage and identity, offering readers an in-depth understanding of the community's traditions and values. Through various forms of communication, the work showcases how language shapes social connections and cultural continuity.

Papers from the conference on 'Minor Languages: Coming to grips with a suitable definition' Bremen, June 2001

Frontmatter -- Introduction / Joel, Sherzer / -- Semiotic Functions of Macro-parallelism in the Shokleng Origin Myth / Greg, Urban -- Oratory Is Spoken, Myth Is Told, and Song Is Sung, but They Are All Music to My Ears / Anthony, Seeger -- Three Modes of Shavante Vocal Expression: Wailing, Collective Singing, and Political Oratory / Laura, Graham -- Quoted Dialogues in Kalapalo Narrative Discourse / Ellen, Basso -- The Report of a Kuna Curing Specialist: The Poetics and Rhetoric of an Oral Performance / Joel, Sherzer -- Styles of Toba Discourse / Harriet, Klein -- Topic Continuity and OVS Order in Hixkaryana / Desmond C., Derbyshire -- The Decline of Dialogue: Ceremonial and Mythological Discourse among the Shuar and Achuar of Eastern Ecuador / Maurizio, Gnerre -- Guide to Tape Selections -- Index

Exploring the rich tapestry of verbal artistry, this book delves into various forms of speech play, such as puns, riddles, and metaphors, highlighting their importance in global cultures. It emphasizes that verbal playfulness transcends mere entertainment, reflecting deeper societal values and individual worldviews. By examining the intersections of language, culture, and personal expression, the work reveals how these playful forms of communication shape and enrich human experience.