"Richard Bauman, one of the world's foremost scholarsof folkloric texts and performances, is here at the peak of hiscareer. From street cries in a Mexican market to Icelandicfolktales, from practical jokes in rural Texas to the yarns of NovaScotia fishermen, this book takes us on a behind-the-scenes tour ofthe words through which people make meaning out of life.„Greg Urban, University of Pennsylvania
“In a set of empirically rich, evocative essays, Baumancontinues his masterly explorations at the border of linguisticanthropology, literary theory, and the study of oral poetics. Together, these chapters provide an exemplary theoreticalperspective on genre and the cultural implications ofperformance.„ Susan Gal, University of Chicago
“Richard Bauman has given us a wonderful book, which drawson his wide-ranging experience in many places and cultures, on hisexpertise in both oral discourse and written texts, and on hiserudite knowledge in many academic disciplines---linguisticanthropology, folklore, and literary criticism.„ JoelSherzer, University of Texas, Austin
“A fresh take on folklore studies and a valuable addition to thecorpus of writing on linguistic anthropology. The writer balancesattention to detail with the ability to present arguments elegantlyand clearly." Social Anthropology
Drawing on his work in Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, North America, Ghana, and Fiji, linguistic anthropologist and folklorist RichardBauman presents a series of ethnographic case studies that offer asparkling look at intertextuality as communicative practice.
* * A fascinating perspective on intertextuality: the idea thatwritten and spoken texts speak to one another, e. g. through genreor allusions.
* Presents a series of ethnographic case studies to illustratethe topic.
* Draws on a broad range of oral performances and literaryrecords from across the world.
* The author's introduction sets a framework for theanalysis of genre, perform and intertextuality.
* Shows how performers blend genres, e. g., telling stories aboutriddles or legends about magical verses, or constructing salespitches.
* * A fascinating perspective on intertextuality: the idea thatwritten and spoken texts speak to one another, e. g. through genreor allusions.
* Presents a series of ethnographic case studies to illustratethe topic.
* Draws on a broad range of oral performances and literaryrecords from across the world.
* The author's introduction sets a framework for theanalysis of genre, perform and intertextuality.
* Shows how performers blend genres, e. g., telling stories aboutriddles or legends about magical verses, or constructing salespitches.
