Sundiata versus Ong

In the text,” Psychodynamics of Orality,” Walter J. Ong describes different techniques oral cultures have developed to record thoughts.  He has broken up these methods into 10 distinct categories that, according to Ong, can be readily identified in what he calls primary oral cultures.  The text we were asked to analyze demonstrates several of these techniques. 

After reading Sundiata, it is clear the oral compositor used mnemonic devices and a rhythmic tone to aid in future recollection.  Ong proposes that the only way someone can remember a complex formula (or in this case a somewhat complicated story) is to simply think memorable thoughts.  In order to solve the problem of effectively “retaining and retrieving articulated thought,” as Ong calls it, one must think in mnemonic patterns and create a deep, rhythmic style throughout.  This is often accomplished using repetition, antitheses, alliterations and assonances; all of which are present in the Sundiata text.  The redundant and continued descriptions of events in the first two verses, and throughout the entire text in different areas, are a few examples of the argument above.

It is also clear that the Sundiata text uses Ong’s aggregative technique.   Ong proposes that oral cultures tend to use epithets while high literacy cultures usually find their use as wordy and tiresome.  For example, throughout the Sundiata text the author describes a staff as a “seven-fold forged staff” and blacksmiths as “blacksmith patriarchs.”  According to Ong, this heavy use of epithets help oral cultures develop a kind of word driven formula that helps people remember the story.  Just like two plus two is four, oral cultures have developed ways to remember multiple words put together. 

In addition to many of the other techniques the Sundiata text uses, the redundant usage of certain phrases and words are one of the more prevalent methods.  In almost every verse, two or three lines will be repeated from the one before it creating only a few more elements for the speaker to remember.

After reading the Sundiata text, it is clear many of Ong’s techniques were used in the creation of this story.  Oral cultures needed to create some sort of method or methods in order to remember complex stories and poems.  It is through some of these techniques described above and continuous practicing that oral cultures were able to maintain an oral record of their history. 

Although poems and stories like Sundiata were created through fanciful reenactments of the truth, I believe they are usually based on some version of reality.  Stories that tend to be more extreme in nature are usually more memorable and therefore can help people in a highly oral culture remember their history.