Additive Oral
literature tends to build in structure by adding new events. This is often called
parataxis, where the author builds up idea after idea with and between them. |
Subordinative
Written literature tends to subsume subpoints under main points. It has a large number of
subplots. |
Aggregative Oral
literature relies on epithets and clustering. Heroes tend to have praise names attached to
them. |
Analytic Written
literature relies on more detailed distinction of parts. |
Copious/Redundant
Oral literature stresses a fullness of expression that builds; one cannot loop back to
previous text. |
Continuity
Written literature, because it makes visual retrieval possible, can go back and resume
previous developments. |
Conservative/Traditionalist
Oral texts tend to build on what has existed so far. |
Potentially Subversive
Written texts can more easily break from previous patterns. |
Close to the human lifeworld
Oral literature tends to be concerned with human deeds, even the gods act like humans.
Texts conceived in oral cultures do not focus on abstractions. |
More able to distance or
denature the world Written texts tend to allow one to talk about
philosophical ideals, principles, and scientific laws. |
Agonistically toned
Oral literature tends to be performed in a more combative style. Oral performers
are contestants, so they must compete for their audiences. |
Calmer in tone
Written literature tends to be more objective because it is more abstract. |
Empathetic, Participatory
Oral literature tends to be more communal in reaction. |
Objectively Distanced |
Homeostatic Oral
literature tends to treat the past and the present as essentially the same. |
Historical
Written literature is less able to conflate the past with the present. |
Situational Self
In oral societies, personhood is discovered in the communal; it is hard to think of the
self as existing outside community structures. |
Isolationist Self
Written societies tend to make it possible for one to be more seperate and private.
Texts become owned property. |