The Progression of Narration and Its Influence on Mankind
Arthur Frank’s well-known quote, “human existence is shaped by the narratives we narrate: the identity felt through these tales, the connections formed around shared narratives, and the sense of purpose derived and limited by such tales,” underscores the inherent affinity between humans and storytelling, an aspect that has shaped humanity for ages on end.
The eminent Idries Shah brought together a cache of 65 tales from across the world in his 1979 book, “World Tales”. Despite their varied cultural origins, these tales demonstrated striking similarity in plot, hence suggesting an intrinsic human trait of concocting and circulating narratives. Shah contemplated, “Why is it that identical tales are found in Scotland as well as pre-Columbian America?” The sustained ubiquity of these narratives across space and time epitomizes their perpetual influence.
The Genesis of Storytelling and Linguistics
Shah professed that tales exhibit an “almost supernatural resilience and durability,” surpassing boundaries of nations, languages, and cultures. Unearthing the roots of storytelling sends us back half a million years, to our ancient forebears, Homo erectus. As they predominantly made tools and hunted, their unoccupied hands were used for gesturing, an initial form of expressing themselves. The existence of carved patterns on their tools hints at a rudimentary form of symbolizing experiences and meanings through physical objects.
The belief of whether Homo erectus had linguistic abilities is contentious among academics, but Daniel Everett, a professor of global studies at Bentley University, opines that despite probably having a limited range of noises, they likely communicated in a “true language”. Elaborating further he views, “Homo erectus communicated and invented the basic version of language, akin to a Model T Ford. Our language has evolved and is like the Tesla, but their initial version is nothing less than a true language.”
Narration: A Driving Factor for Sociocultural Development
Evolution in vocal capabilities and anatomical changes such as the larynx over centuries allowed for intricate sound production, thus promoting the exchange of thoughts and abstract concepts. Archaeological evidence of early workshops for humans and widespread use of ochre across various cultures implies that storytelling was crucial in imparting essential survival knowledge and societal principles.
Gossip has a social function akin to primates’ grooming – as a way to bond, as described by evolutionary psychologist, Robin Dunbar. It gives insights into societal standards and acceptable conduct, facilitating the integration newcomers into pre-existing social networks. Psychologist Frank McAndrew supplements this notion stating, “We’re the lineage of people good at this. Our prehistoric ancestors fascinated by the lives of others had a marked evolutionary advantage.”
In conclusion, narration in all its forms, played a pivotal role in shaping human societies, cultures, and perception of reality. Although societal setups and communication pathways have progressed over time, the fundamental significance of storytelling in human lives remains constant. This understanding urges introspection on the tales we entertain and their role in modeling our world..
