Storytelling
Most cultures around the world have a strong tradition of oral storytelling. Some of you may have listened to bedtime stories read by your parents or carers, listened to stories told in the classroom or at church, or listened to traditional stories from your culture. We tell each other stories every day; about people, places and events in our lives. Oral storytelling is not only entertainment for children, it is also a way of teaching people about our cultural identity - our history and traditions, of ways to behave, of warning, or of understanding our world.
Storytellers use language features and language devices to shape their audiences' responses to their stories.
Listen to some oral stories.
Listen to Aboriginal Australian stories on the website at the link below.
- Go to www.abc.net.au.
- Type the phrase 'dust echoes' into the ABC search bar at the top of the page.
- Open the link 'Dust Echoes: Ancient Stories, New Voices' that appears in the list.
- Enter the site and listen to some stories.
Also, listen to Rik Mayall retell traditional Grimm Tales.
- Use your search engine to search for 'rik mayall grim tales'.
- Select and view one of the videos available.
Discuss the language features and devices used by the speakers to engage and entertain their audience.
Discuss how Rik Mayall uses body language and facial expression to engage his audience.
