Bushmen as Translators (IMAGE)

University of Utah

Bushmen as Translators

Caption

A group of !Kung Bushmen in Africa's Kalahari Desert work together to transcribe and translate a recorded firelight conversation into a written text. Such translations were used by University of Utah anthropologist Polly Wiessner in a study of how conversations and stories told over evening fires differed from daytime conversations, focusing on reinforcing social traditions, promoting harmony and equality and engendering a broader sense of community. Wiessner believe such fireside talks by human ancestors helped our culture evolve.

Credit

Polly Wiessner, University of Utah.

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