Means Of Transmission And Style Of Oral Literature

Oral literature is delivered by word of mouth before an audience. This word of mouth medium presentation implies that oral literature makes its appeal first through the sound of words that reach the ears of the audience and only secondary through the meaning or logic examined in these words. The importance of this sound may be seen on the fact that even in the more intimate or limited types of oral performance such as divination poetry,  the listener at least is expected to hear the texts being recited by the diviner to know clearly the way in which he is supposed to participate in the whole process.
The aesthetic or beauty of oral literature can be seen in the style the artist uses. Such as: repetition, ideophones, digression imagery, allusion, symbolism and others.

Repetition
This is one of the most fundamental characteristic features of oral literature, it not only give a touch of beauty or aura quality to a piece of oral expression but serves certain practical purpose in the overall organization of the oral performance. Though early scholars did not appreciate the relevance of repetition in oral literature. Early collectors and editors of folk songs and folktale had cut down repetition of phrases in texts and by so doing they tampered with the very heart of the text. Repetition is sometimes employed to mark feeling of excitement or agitation whether in a sense of delight or anxiety and fear.

Ideophones
Ideophones is a techniques relying on sound. It is simply defined as idea - in- sound, in the sense that from the sound of the word one can get the idea of an event or the object referred to. They are sounds, used conveying a vivid impression. It is a device frequently used in songs, chant as well as riddles for achieving lyrical and other effects. However, they are more frequently used in narrative for achieving a stronger sensual or dramatic impact than any words available in the language. The audience can hear, see, feel, touch and enjoy the narrative through the use of ideophones which is used to convey the image described in a story telling

Digression
The oral performer departs for a moment from the main line of the subject of a story or song either to address an object or person at the scene of performance or to comment on an issue which may be closely or remotely connected with the main subject. The digression may be external or internal where the artist feels the need to moment briefly on an issue within the story or song.
Imagery
it is true that oral and written literature differ fundamentally in their methods of presentation - one by word of mouth and the other through the printed word. They are both united fundamentally also in the use of word and in the way in which they employ words to paint mental pictures that appeal to our feeling and understanding, these mental pictures are what is known as images. e.g
Example                                 Yoruba Version
A long staff touching the              Opa tere kan ile, okan orun
earth and reaching the heaven     Idahun: Ojo ni o
Answer: Rain
Symbolism
This device occurs both in oral and written literature. A symbol is a concrete or familiar object that is used in reference to or as an explanation of an abstract idea or less familiar object or event. It is a useful means of conveying certain important truth or lesson about human life and the problems of existence. Symbols are often used in wisdom literature such as riddles and proverbs.