Sepik Storytelling
From SPARK
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Unpublished
Made unpublished per Karl Franklin's request of January 7, 2010 to remove it.
Brief Summary
Storytelling is a precursor to literacy and translation
Introduction
In 2002 and in 2003 Karl Franklin held workshops of one week each in the Sandaun (West Sepik) and East Sepik Provinces, with 17 participants in each workshop, some 12 languages in all. The workshops were designed to teach participants how to tell Bible stories in a particular vernacular language. Participants were taught in Tok Pisin with at least two members of each language present.
Key Factors
What Was Done
The storytelling methodology that I have used and promoted can be a precursor to literacy and translation, using the available Tok Pisin Bible as a source text. Participants discuss how and why stories are important in their cultures, the kinds of stories there are, the Big Idea in a story, story audiences, telling and constructing stories, examining stories, stories as songs and drama, and recording and using stories.
Results
Participants felt that “anyone” could re-tell Bible stories and that even in cases where Scriptures were available (four languages), the people did not sit around the fire and read the Scriptures—they told us that they sat around and told stories. Telling stories in the vernacular often reveals motivation for written stories and for a translation program of some sort. In one case (the Dra language in the Amanab area) two of the participants have begun to translate the Scripture into their own language, which formerly had nothing. In other instances, the storytelling workshop, although brief, has whetted their appetite for more. Unfortunately, in the case of the very small languages of PNG (there are 211 that have 500 or fewer speakers), it is unlikely that full-scale programs will ever begin.
Helpful Information from the Author
- By: :By Karl Franklin
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