Some Stray Folklore Notes

This article uses ideas developed in the philosophy of science to examine two concepts of culture used in contemporary folkloristics. One of them appears mainly in the context of archival work, while the other occurs chiefly in discussions on themes such as identity politics and ethnic minorities. The main difference between the two concepts is that one is used when formulating ‘substantial theories’ related to ‘kinds’, whereas the other is a bone of contention in ongoing debates on the level of ‘grand theories’. Theoretical tools developed in earlier cultural research are taken into use in contemporary cultural movements, and this affects theoretical debates on the level of grand theories.     

Some Characteristics of Irish Folklore

THE GROUP MIND : a Sketch of the Principles of Collective Psychology, with some attempt to apply them to the Interpretation of National Life and Character. By W. M'DOUGALL. Cambridge: University Press, 1920. £1 is. net. Reviewed by R. R. Marett.

MAN, PAST AND PRESENT, by A. H. KEANE, revised and largely re-written by A. HINGSTON QUIGGIN and A. C. HADDON. Cambridge University Press, 1920. Price 36s. Reviewed by W. Crooke.

A GLOSSARY OF THE TRIBES AND CASTES OF THE PUNJAB AND NORTH-WEST FRONTIER PROVINCE, by H. A. ROSE. 3 vols. Lahore, 1911–19. Price 22s.

THE TALE OF THE TWO TRAVELLERS, OR THE BLINDED MAN : A COMPARATIVE STUDY, by REIDAR TH. CHRISTIANSEN. Folklore Fellows Communications, No. 26. Hamina, 1916, Published by the Finnish Academy of Science. Reviewed by E. Sidney Hartland.

SIR ROGER DE COVERLEY AND OTHER LITERARY PIECES, by Sir J. G. FRAZER. London, Macmillan &; Co., 1920. Price 8s. 6d. net.

SÅJHER BHOG, by RAI SAHIB DINESH CHANDRA SEN. Calcutta, ?i?ir Publishing House, 1919. 1 rupee 4 annas net. Reviewed by J. D. Anderson.     

民俗词语刍议

民俗词语是用来指称民俗仪式及其相关事象的词语。对民俗词语进行调查和研究,近期引起了学者的注意。笔者拟在前贤研究的基础上,以自己家乡安徽宿松方言中有关婚嫁和丧葬的民俗词语为例,谈谈个人对这方面的认识。     

《世界民俗学》误译举例

陈建宪、彭海斌所译《世界民俗学》是已故美国民俗学家阿兰·邓迪斯编辑的一本民俗研究论文集,原题为The Study of Folklore。这本书在中国民俗学界较有影响,乃至多所大学都把它作为民俗学专业硕士研究生的重要参考书。但是,这本书翻译质量总体不高,误译现象较普遍。对这本书的译文进行具体实在的分析和研究,有利于它更好地在我国发挥作用。