First Edition, 1974. Slight foxing on page edges, otherwise clean, clear text in a tightly bound book. Dust Jacket Condition: some light evidence of shelfwear with small tears on top edges xvii, 382 pp, Gossen's book is the culmination of fifteen months of field research among the Tzotzil-speaking Maya Indians of Chamula, Mexico. He describes the various genres of Chamula oral traditions as they function within their social contexts and in relation to Chamula cosmology. Chapters are primarily organized around these genres, such as "true recent narrative," "prayer," and "frivolous language. Contents: Preface, 1. The Community, 2. The Nature and Types of Chamula Verbal Behavior, 3. The Marginal Genres, 4. True Recent Narrative, 5. Frivolous Language, 6. Traditional Games, 7. True Ancient Narrative, 8. Language for Rendering Holy, 9. Prayer, 10. Song, 11. Language, Cosmos, and Social Order, 12. A Perspective on the Study of Oral Tradition, Appendix: Narrative Text Abstracts, bibliography, notes, index. Includes 3 maps, 6 figures, and 4 b&w Chamula drawings by Marian Lopez Calixto.
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