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Hunter-Gatherers’ Stories “Make Sense”: Semantics and Adaptation

Hunter-Gatherers’ Stories “Make Sense”: Semantics and Adaptation. Authored by Megan Biesele Presented by Nate Radomski. Introduction Semantics and Adaptation Megan Biesele !Kung Folktales and Storytelling Conclusion. Semantics.

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Hunter-Gatherers’ Stories “Make Sense”: Semantics and Adaptation

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  1. Hunter-Gatherers’ Stories “Make Sense”: Semantics and Adaptation Authored by Megan Biesele Presented by Nate Radomski

  2. Introduction • Semantics and Adaptation • Megan Biesele • !Kung • Folktales and Storytelling • Conclusion

  3. Semantics • Semantics: “interpretation of meaning in the context of language” • Connotation: “An idea or feeling that a word invokes for a person in addition to its literal meaning”

  4. Adaptation • Resilience • Oral Tradition • Flexibility

  5. Megan Biesele • Ph.D. Social Anthropology Harvard University, 1975. • Past 40 years studying “Bushman” in Botswana and Namibia • Language Development, human rights, religion, belief systems, verbal and visual art, cognitive systems.

  6. Bushmen, !Kung, San, Sho http://www.blessedhopeacademy.com/GeographyPhoto/Kalahari%20Desert.gif

  7. !Kung • Egalitarian: emphasis on community wealth rather than individual wealth http://www.der.org/films/kung-resettlement.html

  8. Introduction • Semantics and Adaptation • Megan Biesele • !Kung • Folktales and Storytelling • Conclusion

  9. Storytelling as Education • Situational rather than abstract • Drama • Social, routine, enjoyable • “Group knowledge”

  10. Storytelling as Education • Promotes positive ambience about sharing • Attention to detail -- “Why might this be important for hunter-gatherers?” • Demonstration rather than instruction

  11. Conclusion • What useful mechanisms can we borrow from hunter gatherer culture? • Combine expression and function • “Change of focus”, “New paradigm”, “different focus”…

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