Oral Narratives and Listening Skills

Introduction

An oral narrative is a story passed on by word of mouth from one generation to another. Kenyan communities such as the Luo, Kikuyu, Luhya, Kamba and Mijikenda have rich storytelling traditions. The Senior School CBC (KICD) English curriculum develops your listening and speaking skills through them.

Types of oral narratives

• Myths - explain origins of the world, people or customs.
• Legends - tell of heroes and historic events, such as stories of great warriors and prophets.
• Folktales - entertaining stories, often featuring animals like the hare or hyena as tricksters.
• Fables - short stories with animal characters that end with a moral.

Features of oral narratives

• Formulaic openings and closings, e.g. "Listen, listen!" "Story, story!" "Yes, we are listening!"
• Repetition for emphasis and memory
• Songs and chants with audience participation
• Characters such as humans, animals, spirits
• Moral lessons and a clear setting
• Use of figurative language such as proverbs and similes

Functions

• Educate and teach values like honesty and respect
• Entertain
• Preserve history and culture
• Criticise wrong behaviour in society
• Strengthen community bonds

Listening skills

Good listening is active. To listen well:

1. Focus on the speaker and avoid distractions.
2. Maintain appropriate eye contact.
3. Note key points and the sequence of events.
4. Ask or answer clarifying questions politely.
5. Respond respectfully, giving constructive feedback.

Speaking skills for narration

• Voice: vary pitch, volume and speed.
• Pace and pauses for suspense.
• Gestures and facial expressions.
• Eye contact with the audience.
• Clear pronunciation and correct grammar.
• Audience involvement through songs or questions.

Worked example 1

Identify the moral in a story where a greedy hyena loses all his food trying to take more. Answer: Greed leads to loss; be content with what you have.

Worked example 2

Opening a narrative. "Story, story!" - "Story!" Long ago, in the land beside the great lake, there lived a clever hare... The formulaic call draws attention and invites response.

Try it

• Recall a folktale from your community and retell it in four sentences.
• Identify the formulaic opening and closing in your story.
• Practise narrating it with changes in voice and gestures to a partner.
• List three values the story teaches.