The Mong Oral Tradition: Cultural Memory in the Absence of
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Thao, Yer J. / Arguelles, Lourdes / Pennekamp, Marianne, PUBLISHER: McFarland & Company, Compiled from numerous interviews, this volume explores ong>theong> lives ong>ofong> 13 Mong elders. With emphasis on ong>theong>ir unique oral tradition and cultural practices, ong>theong> book discusses Mong rituals, tribal customs, religious beliefs and educational experiences. ong>Theong> main focus ong>ofong> ong>theong> work, however, is ong>theong> lifestyle ong>theong> elders maintained while living in ong>theong> mountains ong>ofong> Laos. In ong>theong>ir own words, ong>theong>y describe ong>theong>ir childhood, communities, religious rituals and cultural traditions as well as ong>theong> ongoing struggle ong>ofong> adjustment to ong>theong>ir new homeland. ong>Theong> work also delves into ong>theong> Mong perceptions ong>ofong> industrialization and ong>theong> generational conflict that immersion into a literate society has caused. ong>Theong> author himself is a member ong>ofong> ong>theong> Mong culture and brings a personal perspective to preserving ong>theong> oral traditions ong>ofong> this unique ethnicity. ong>Theong> work is also indexed.