Original Research

The unwritten textbook of the folktale: A case study of 'Morongwa le Morongwanyana' (The Messenger and the Small messenger)

M.M. Letsie
Literator | Vol 25, No 3 | a262 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/lit.v25i3.262 | © 2004 M.M. Letsie | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 31 July 2004 | Published: 31 July 2004

About the author(s)

M.M. Letsie, Dept. of African Languages, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, South Africa

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Abstract

This article explores the unwritten textbook of the folktale in the case of “Morongwa le Morongwanyana” [The Messenger and the Small messenger], a South African folktale recorded and published by A.T. Malepe. Against the background of current problems with the folktale tradition, it is argued that the unwritten textbook can help improve three educational practices, namely the practice of educating children at home, the practice of teaching and learning at school, and the practice of educational mass media. The nature and content of the unwritten textbook of the Batswana culture as defined by Ong (1982) and other scholars on orality are examined in a case study of the selected folktale. Lastly, the implications of the case study and of the unwritten textbook for the three practices are spelled out.

Keywords

Tswana Folktales; Unwritten Textbook; Use Of Oral Literature And Folktales In Education

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