PRELITERATURE Meaning and
Definition
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Preliterature refers to the early stages of written communication and literary development within a particular culture or society. It encompasses the period before the emergence of a formal writing system or the recorded works that are traditionally recognized as literature.
During the preliterature phase, oral traditions, storytelling, and other forms of verbal communication play a significant role in preserving and transmitting knowledge, history, and cultural values from one generation to another. These oral traditions often revolve around myths, legends, folklore, and epic narratives that are verbally passed down through generations. They serve as the primary means of entertainment, education, and collective identity formation within the community.
The absence of a written language or systematized literature in preliterature means that such knowledge and cultural expressions rely solely on the human memory, oral recitation, and the skills of storytellers. These narratives and oral traditions are often shaped by the cultural, social, and historical context of the society in question, reflecting their values, beliefs, aspirations, and lived experiences.
Preliterature is an essential phase in human cultural evolution, as it laid the foundation for the development and transition into a literate society. It represents the initial explorations and expressions of human creativity, imagination, and intellectual development, serving as a precursor to the more structured forms of literary production that emerge with the establishment of a writing system and formalized literary traditions.
Common Misspellings for PRELITERATURE
- oreliterature
- lreliterature
- 0reliterature
- peeliterature
- pdeliterature
- pfeliterature
- pteliterature
- p5eliterature
- p4eliterature
- prwliterature
- prsliterature
- prdliterature
- prrliterature
- pr4literature
- pr3literature
- prekiterature
- prepiterature
- preoiterature
- preluterature
- preljterature
Etymology of PRELITERATURE
The word "preliterature" is a compound term, which is formed from two components: "pre-" and "literature".
- The prefix "pre-" derives from the Latin word "prae", meaning "before" or "prior to". It is used in English to indicate something that comes before or prepares for something else.
- The term "literature" originates from the Latin word "literatura", which referred to writing and learning in general. In English, it specifically refers to written works of fiction, poetry, drama, essays, and other imaginative or creative writings.
Therefore, the etymology of "preliterature" suggests that it refers to anything that comes before or precedes the concept of literature as it is commonly understood today. It can refer to early forms of oral tradition, ancient texts, or any other forms of storytelling or communication that existed before the development of written literature.
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