Ikkeskriftlige

Ikkeskriftlige is an adjective used in Norwegian scholarship to describe information, sources, or practices that are not written but transmitted orally. The term is commonly applied in historiography, anthropology, folklore studies, and legal contexts to distinguish non-written material from written records.

Etymology and scope: The word combines ikke ("not") and skriftlige ("written"), reflecting a contrast with skriftlige sources. While most discussions focus on oral histories and traditions, ikkeskriftlige material can also include unwritten rules, customary practices, and tacit know-how passed through communities.

In research, ikkeskriftlige sources require careful methodology: recording, transcription, and qualitative analysis; cross-check with available written records; and an awareness of memory biases and transmission errors. Field methods often involve interviews, participant observation, and audio or video documentation to preserve the content for later analysis.

Limitations and interpretation: Non-written sources provide valuable insights into how people think and act in everyday life, but their variability and potential distortion over time mean they are not always verifiable in the same way as written documents. Scholars typically document provenance, context, and limitations when presenting ikkeskriftlige evidence, and they may triangulate with other sources to strengthen interpretations.

See also: skriftlig, oral tradition, customary law, and sources in anthropology and historiography.