TALEclass

TALEclass, also known as the Tricky Aspects of Literary and Artistic Expression classification system, is a comprehensive digital database that catalogs traditional oral narratives, specifically folktales and related storytelling genres from around the world. Developed as a collaborative project, TALEclass aims to facilitate comparative folklore studies and promote the preservation of oral storytelling traditions.

Initiated in the early 2000s, TALEclass consolidates data from various international folklore archives and research institutions. Its entries include summaries of tales, motifs, plot structures, cultural contexts, and bibliographic references. The database is categorized based on criteria such as tale types according to the Aarne-Thompson-Uther (ATU) classification system, regional variants, and thematic elements.

TALEclass serves as a valuable resource for folklorists, anthropologists, educators, and students interested in storytelling traditions. It provides searchable features that enable users to identify common motifs, compare narratives across cultures, and study the evolution of oral stories over time. The platform also supports linguistic diversity by including tales in multiple languages and translations.

Since its inception, TALEclass has contributed significantly to the documentation and analysis of oral literature, helping to preserve endangered storytelling forms amid modernization pressures. The database continues to expand through contributions from researchers worldwide, emphasizing open access and collaborative scholarship.

Overall, TALEclass plays a critical role in the study and preservation of global oral narrative traditions, fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation of the rich diversity of human storytelling.