口述传统与口述历史

史学虽然是历史最悠久、传统最深厚的一门学科 ,但作为其中一个分支的口述史 ,却比其他学科更年轻 ,也更不成熟。口述史的研究对象已不再是传统的“故纸堆” ,而是活生生的人 ,所以极有必要借鉴人类学与民俗学的经验。但口述史研究不仅不能因此而抛弃文献、看轻文献 ,反而需要更深厚的文献功底和辨析史料的能力。正因为有文献的介入 ,口述历史才有可能从其他的口述传统中分离出来而别具一格 ,换句话说 ,将文献与口述相结合的口述史 ,是区别于人类学、民俗学的口述传统的主要特征。

Oral Tradition and Oral History

The study of history is a discipline that enjoys a longest history and rich tradition of its own. However, the study of oral history is younger and less mature than other branches of history. The research subject for oral history is no longer written materials but people lives. The study of oral history needs to learn from the scholarship of anthropology and folklore studies, although both these disciplines forsake stocks of documents or look down on them. It is because of good training in literature that oral history distinguishes itself from other oral traditions. The combination of literature and oral traditions is the main distinctive feature that separates the study of oral history from anthropology and folklore studies.