1.3: What is Oral Interpretation of Literature?

Overview

Oral interpretation has been practiced by cultures around the world for centuries. In A History of Oral Interpretation (1970), Eugene and Margaret Bahn trace this tradition through Western history, from classical Greece to the 20th century. But oral interpretation is global: Japan’s Kamishibai, China’s Pingshu, West African griots, Middle Eastern Hakawati, Indigenous oral traditions, and India’s Katha and Kathakalakshepam all reflect how people use storytelling to share knowledge, preserve history, and express cultural values.

Oral interpretation is a universal human practice. It helps communities understand their world, connect across generations, and reflect on their beliefs and identities.

In this course, we also explore oral interpretation through the lens of forensics (not crime scene investigation), but the art of argumentative and performative speech. In the U.S., thousands of students participate in speech and debate tournaments that include events like Persuasive Speaking, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and oral interpretation categories such as Poetry, Prose, and Dramatic Interpretation.

While this class borrows some techniques from competitive speech forensics, the focus is not on competition. Instead, you’ll explore how your performances create meaning for both you and your audience.

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Two Yoruba storytellers on stage performing. (CC-BY; Yemi festus - Yoruba Storytelling 2025)

 

 

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the global and historical roots of oral interpretation.
2. Recognize oral interpretation as a universal human tradition.
3. Examine the cultural significance of storytelling traditions.
4. Differentiate between forensic science and forensic speech.

 

The History of Oral Interpretation of Literature

In their 1970 book A History of Oral Interpretation, Eugene Bahn and Margaret Bahn provide an overview of how different cultures have historically engaged in the oral interpretation of literature. They examine this tradition in classical Greece, ancient Rome, the medieval period, the Renaissance, the 17th century, the 18th century, the 19th century, and the 20th century. Although their book primarily focuses on Western cultures, the reality is that people around the world have practiced oral interpretation throughout history.

In Japan, Kamishibai is a form of picture-card storytelling that dates back to the twelfth century, originally used in temples to explain Buddhist deities and temple histories. In China, people engaged in Pingshu (also known as Pinghua), a traditional form of storytelling without music. Popular on radio and in teahouses, it draws from history, literature, and folklore. In West Africa, griots are professional oral historians, storytellers, poets, and musicians. In the Middle East, the Hakawati, or traditional storyteller, captivates audiences with tales, myths, and moral lessons. Indigenous peoples around the world perform creation stories, trickster tales, folktales, and legends. In India, Katha are religious storytelling performances in which professional storytellers recite and interpret Hindu scriptures such as the Puranas and the Ramayana. Kathakalakshepam is a related form that blends storytelling with music, dance, and digressions, often centered on mythological themes.

Oral interpretation is a fundamental part of the human experience across time and cultures. It has been a vital way for humans make sense of the world and pass down knowledge. Through oral interpretation, communities express, reinforce, and sometimes challenge their cultural norms and values.

Forensics, Speech and Debate

When you hear the word “forensics,” what comes to mind? Many people in the United States associate forensics with crime scenes. In true crime documentaries, we often see forensic scientists analyzing DNA through forensic testing. While that is one definition of forensics, it is not the one we will use in this textbook.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2025), forensic is the art or study of argumentative discourse. In the United States, thousands of middle school, high school, and college students participate in forensic tournaments each year. Many schools have competitive forensic teams that travel to various locations to compete. These tournaments include categories such as Persuasive Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Informative Speaking, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Parliamentary Debate, and many other divisions. Forensic tournaments also feature events focused on oral interpretation. Some of these categories include Prose Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Program Oral Interpretation, and Storytelling.

Although the rules may vary slightly between tournaments, they generally follow similar guidelines. Oral interpretation performances are typically 10 minutes long, with a 30-second grace period. Each performance also includes a brief introduction in which the speaker provides an overview of the author(s) and title(s) of the work they will present. A judge typically evaluates the performance based on message delivery, vocal and physical interpretation, character development, and overall impact.

It is important to note that while we will apply some of the techniques used in forensic tournaments, your teacher will not be judging you as if you were competing against your classmates. The goal of this class is not simply to create polished performances, but to explore the realities your performances create and highlight for both you and your audience.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Activity 1: Cultural Storytelling Showcase

Objective: Understand how oral interpretation appears across different world cultures.

Instructions:

1. Choose one cultural storytelling tradition from the reading (e.g., Kamishibai, Pingshu, Griots, Hakawati, Katha, etc.).

2. Conduct brief research (1–2 sources) to learn more about the style, purpose, and typical themes of this tradition.

3. In small groups or as individuals, prepare a 2-minute performance inspired by that tradition. You may:

   • Retell a myth or folktale using the traditional format.

   • Create a modern story using the traditional style.

4. After performing, write a short reflection (5–7 sentences) on what the tradition reveals about that culture’s values and way of communicating.