BENEATH THE BRANCHES OF THE BAOBAB Georgina Collins 1 June 2007
Languages spoken in Dakar Homes
“far from dying under the impact of western ways, oral literature remains a vigorous art, rooted in rural communities but flourishing too in the towns. It is adapting to modern circumstances just as it adapted to and reflected change in the past” (Mapanje 1)
“pauses properly timed are part of the construction meter. Regular meter has a monotonic quality to the African ear; there is a felt need to alter the rhythm both within lines and between lines probably because the African ear demands rhythmic complexity” (Oyebode 1)
LEL Ecoute les lourds sanglots du Tam-tam Dioung-Dioung... Ecoute-Ecoute Un circoncis est mort ! Dioung ! Les fusils de traite se sont tus La chèvre aux deux têtes Dont une seule visible aux humains La chèvre aux quatre yeux Dont deux visible aux humains La chèvre aux huit pattes Dont quatre visible aux humains Et qui plane Quand la terre accouche de ses nains La chèvre aux deux nez A saccagé une âme à l’épreuve Dans le Bois sacré
Rhythm – include “sprung rhythm” Rhymes – consider internal and end-rhymes Oral-written interface – do not elaborate language Native language – respect sound and meaning Meaning – can be found in orature Implications for Translation
Increased awareness of the value of oral aspects Successful interdisciplinary methodology Quality and accuracy achieved against objectives Need to build upon initial research ethnography go beyond theory Conclusion and Implications
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