Book
The language of secrecy: symbols & metaphors in Poro ritual
Rutgers University Press • New Brunswick, New Jersey • Published In 1984 • Pages:
By: Bellman, Beryl Larry.
AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
The author of this study analyzes the various forms used by Kpelle to communicate or withhold information, treating lying and secrecy as 'communicative events' in the context of ritual and initiation activities of the Poro secret society. Among these forms are: parables, dilemma tales, pretalk in palavers, gnomic expressions, exaggerated descriptions, allegorical accounts, and ritual metaphors. The author shows how Kpelle locate the meaning contexts, or meni, of social interactions.
- SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
- Sodalities
- Social relationships and groups
- Etiquette
- Shamans and psychotherapists
- Prayers and sacrifices
- Revelation and divination
- Magical and mental therapy
- Judicial authority
- Districts
- Initiation of judicial proceedings
- Informal in-group justice
- Verbal arts
- cultureCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
- Kpelle
- HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
- 2009
- RegionThe area the document pertains to
- Africa
- Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
- Western Africa
- Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
- M. A. Marcus ; 1984
- Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
- 1967-1979
- Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
- 1960-1984
- Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
- Liberia
- NotesAdditional notes
- By Beryl Larry Bellman
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 151-158)and index
- LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
- 82013157
- LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
- Poro (Society)/Kpelle (African people)--Rites and ceremonies/Secrecy/Liberia--Social life and customs