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Dimu: An Ancient Character in Modern Bantu Language Tales

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Published/Copyright: November 10, 2022
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Abstract

This article begins with a table which shows modern words for “ogre”, e. g., zimu in Zulu, irimu in Kikuyu and dimo in Sotho, in Bantu language tales and relates them to the Proto-Bantu term, dimu. Using insights from depth psychology, Aarne-Thompson-Uther classification and, especially, performance theory, the paper examines the character of the ogre in a number of theoretical areas. These include the relationship between tradition and creativity, the development of narrative meaning and how the ogre functions as a symbol with special reference to stories found in eastern and southern Africa.

Zusammenfassung

Dieser Beitrag beginnt mit einer Tabelle, die moderne Ausdrücke für „Oger“ auflistet: z. B. zimu in Zulu, irimu in Kikuyu und dimo in Sotho, in Bantu-Sprachgeschichten und bezieht sie auf den Proto-Bantu-Begriff, dimu. Die Analyse stützt sich auf Erkenntnisse aus der Tiefenpsychologie, der Aarne-Thompson-Uther-Klassifikation und insbesondere der Leistungstheorie. Der Aufsatz untersucht den Charakter des Ogers in einer Reihe von theoretischen Bereichen. Dazu gehören die Beziehungen zwischen Tradition und Kreativität, die Entwicklung narrativer Bedeutungen und die Funktionsweise des Ogers als ein Symbol mit besonderem Bezug auf Geschichten im östlichen und südlichen Afrika.

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Published Online: 2022-11-10
Published in Print: 2022-11-09

© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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