An Analysis of Amharic Folk Anecdotes from Arsi -Robe
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Date
2001-06
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Addis Ababa Universiy
Abstract
This thesis is intended to exam me some possible social issues and literary
features of Amharic folk anecdotes collected from Arsi- Robe areas. In my ..
undertaking attempted to discern some significant social impulses embedded and
literary techniques employed by making sample- based and global analyses.
In the activity of sample analysis communicative events of the narrative
performances are treated to some detail. Consequently, the analysis in this
perspective revealed that, during the actualizing of the stories both parties,
narrator and narratee, have almost equal participation. The narrator relates his
stories being aware of the cultural system ( respect, politeness, referring to
reverend sources, for example) and with democratic freedom. The narratees, on
their part, not only listen to the narrator but also argue, comment and add
subordinate oral arts.
Stylistically the majority of the punch lines of the anecdotes are composed in
verse form particularly using Amharic quine. Nearly all anecdotes have
introductory parts and punch lines. In the introductory parts, the characters and
preliminary events are introduced. Then the amusing part (the punch line)
fo llows. In the anecdotes one can view different literary aspects: selection of
materials, arrangements of selected elements and surprise endings being the
prominent ones. Figures of speech such as irony, hyperbole, paradox, symbol and
the like are widely employed.
In the anecdotes varieties of social issues are reflected. Economic backwardness,
violating injustice, sex inequalities, mutual tolerance of different ethnic groups
can be pointed out as significant focuses of the anecdotal stories.
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Amharic Folk Anecdotes from Arsi -Robe