Riddling
Occasion to Act
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2802262 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Thomas A Burns (corresponding author) |
| Year | 1976 |
| Volume | 89 |
| Issue | 352 |
| Pages | 139 |
| Publication date | 1976-04-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of American Folklore (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0021-8715 • E-ISSN: 1535-1882 |
| Publisher | University of Illinois Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.2307/539687 |
| OpenAlex | W2328425710 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
THE LAST TEN YEARS have seen a substantial amount of literature emerge that treats the riddle analytically from the functional and structural viewpoints. In focusing on the function of the riddle, researchers have stressed the value of riddling (a) in reflecting the cognitive abilities as well as the categories of environmental concern of different peoples; (b) as educational devices to exercise and train the intellect, to instill cultural values and attitudes, and to teach dominance and submission roles; (c) as verbal outlets for aggressive feelings and sexual desires; (d) as devices for mediating conceptual ambiguity and stimulating cognitive reexamination; and (e) in promoting the unity and cohesion of the group. In short, nearly all the functions included under the umbrella categories of reinforcement and release that have been posited for other expressive forms have now been assigned to the riddle by some researcher for some group. Although the functional analysis of riddles has constituted a major trend in riddle research in recent years, this paper will not evaluate these studies except to observe that they are more suggestive than conclusive, more involved with hypothesis construction than testing, more explications than investigations of the riddle phenomenon. Structural studies of riddles have considered only the verbal text, with one exception: Thomas Rhys Williams' suggests the importance of body posture in signalling both the intent to riddle and the social rhetorical intent of riddles. While the
History · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Media, Communication, and Education · Social Media and Politics
| Unique citing works | 5 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,12 |
| Citation span | 1984 - 2022 (39) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 5 |