What is oral tradition?

• A. Written records only
• B. Oral tradition means stories written in the margins
• C. A modern practice
• D. Passing on stories and teachings by word of mouth from one generation to the next

Answer: (D)

Oral tradition is the passing on of stories, beliefs, histories, and teachings by spoken word from one generation to the next. It relies on memory, repetition, and performance—people tell the stories aloud, often with songs, chants, or memorable phrasing—so a community preserves its voice even without written texts. This is why the best answer is the one that describes stories and teachings handed down by word of mouth across generations. Written records miss the living, spoken transmission; writing in margins remains a written form, and oral tradition has deep roots in many cultures well before modern times.