Homo narrans ('storytelling human') is one of a number of binomial names for the human species modelled on the commonly used term Homo sapiens ('wise human'). The term posits the primacy of storytelling over, for example, language or reasoning, in differentiating Homo sapiens from other species of the genus Homo.
History
Scholarly use of the term may originate with the German ethnologist Kurt Ranke in a paper published in 1967.[1][2]
Another prominent coining of the term, apparently independent of Ranke's, was by the communications theorist Walter R. Fisher, who is often credited with originating the term.[3][4] Fisher wrote that 'many different root metaphors have been put forth to represent the essential nature of human beings: homo faber, homo economicous, homo politicus, homo sociologicus, "psychological man", "ecclesiastical man", homo sapiens, and, of course, "rational man". I now propose homo narrans to be added to the list.'[5][6]
Appearances in popular culture
The fantasy book The Science of Discworld II: The Globe concludes with the words 'plenty of creatures are intelligent but only one tells stories. That's us: Pan narrans. And what about Homo sapiens? Yes, we think that would be a very good idea.'[7] (The last sentence is a call back to a quote attributed to Gandhi, included in a footnote earlier in the book, when asked what he thought of civilisation on a visit to London.)
References
^Karl Ranke, 'Kategorienprobleme der Volksprosa', Fabula, 9(1-3) (1967), 4–12 (p. 6) doi:10.1515/fabl.1967.9.1-3.4; Kurt Ranke, 'Problems of Categories in Folk Prose', trans. by Carl Lindahl, Folklore Forum 14(1) (1981), 1-17 (p. 5).
^Cf. Albrecht Lehmann, 'Homo narrans: Individuelle und kollektive Dimensionen des Erzëhlens', in Erzählkultur: Beiträge zur kulturwissenschaftlichen Erzählforschung: Hans-Jörg Uther zum 65. Geburtstag, ed. by Rolf Wilhelm Brednich (Berlin: de Gruyter, 2009), pp. 59-70 (p. 59) ISBN9783110214710.
^Rhodes, C. and Brown, A. D. (2005) Narrative, organizations and research. International Journal of Management Reviews, 7 (3). pp. 167-188. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2370.2005.00112.x.
^Jenny Mandelbaum, 'Interpersonal Activities in Conversational Storytelling', Western Journal of Speech Communication, 53.2 (1989, 114-26 doi:10.1080/10570318909374295.
^Walter R. Fisher, 'Narration as a Human Communication paradigm: The Case of Public Moral Argument', Communication Monographs, 51 (1984), 1-20 (p. 6) doi:10.1080/03637758409390180 repr. in Contemporary Rhetorical Theory: A Reader, ed. by John Louis Lucaites, Celeste Michelle Condit, and Sally Caudill (New York: The Guilford Press, 1999) pp. 265-87 (p. 270).
^Cf. Walter R. Fisher, 'The Narrative Paradigm: In the Beginning', Journal of Communication, 35(4), 74–89 (1985), 74-89 doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.1985.tb02974.x.
homo, narrans, storytelling, human, number, binomial, names, human, species, modelled, commonly, used, term, homo, sapiens, wise, human, term, posits, primacy, storytelling, over, example, language, reasoning, differentiating, homo, sapiens, from, other, speci. Homo narrans storytelling human is one of a number of binomial names for the human species modelled on the commonly used term Homo sapiens wise human The term posits the primacy of storytelling over for example language or reasoning in differentiating Homo sapiens from other species of the genus Homo History EditScholarly use of the term may originate with the German ethnologist Kurt Ranke in a paper published in 1967 1 2 Another prominent coining of the term apparently independent of Ranke s was by the communications theorist Walter R Fisher who is often credited with originating the term 3 4 Fisher wrote that many different root metaphors have been put forth to represent the essential nature of human beings homo faber homo economicous homo politicus homo sociologicus psychological man ecclesiastical man homo sapiens and of course rational man I now propose homo narrans to be added to the list 5 6 Appearances in popular culture EditThe fantasy book The Science of Discworld II The Globe concludes with the words plenty of creatures are intelligent but only one tells stories That s us Pan narrans And what about Homo sapiens Yes we think that would be a very good idea 7 The last sentence is a call back to a quote attributed to Gandhi included in a footnote earlier in the book when asked what he thought of civilisation on a visit to London References Edit Karl Ranke Kategorienprobleme der Volksprosa Fabula 9 1 3 1967 4 12 p 6 doi 10 1515 fabl 1967 9 1 3 4 Kurt Ranke Problems of Categories in Folk Prose trans by Carl Lindahl Folklore Forum 14 1 1981 1 17 p 5 Cf Albrecht Lehmann Homo narrans Individuelle und kollektive Dimensionen des Erzehlens in Erzahlkultur Beitrage zur kulturwissenschaftlichen Erzahlforschung Hans Jorg Uther zum 65 Geburtstag ed by Rolf Wilhelm Brednich Berlin de Gruyter 2009 pp 59 70 p 59 ISBN 9783110214710 Rhodes C and Brown A D 2005 Narrative organizations and research International Journal of Management Reviews 7 3 pp 167 188 doi 10 1111 j 1468 2370 2005 00112 x Jenny Mandelbaum Interpersonal Activities in Conversational Storytelling Western Journal of Speech Communication 53 2 1989 114 26 doi 10 1080 10570318909374295 Walter R Fisher Narration as a Human Communication paradigm The Case of Public Moral Argument Communication Monographs 51 1984 1 20 p 6 doi 10 1080 03637758409390180 repr in Contemporary Rhetorical Theory A Reader ed by John Louis Lucaites Celeste Michelle Condit and Sally Caudill New York The Guilford Press 1999 pp 265 87 p 270 Cf Walter R Fisher The Narrative Paradigm In the Beginning Journal of Communication 35 4 74 89 1985 74 89 doi 10 1111 j 1460 2466 1985 tb02974 x Terry Pratchett Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen 2002 This article relating to anthropology is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This article related to Latin words and phrases is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Homo narrans amp oldid 1118578864, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
