Vertellersporen

Vertellersporen is a term used in Dutch-language literary and folkloristic discourse to describe the traces left by a storyteller in a text, performance, or memory. It refers to the recognizable imprint of the teller on the narrative—the stylistic fingerprints, narrative choices, and social functions that reflect the teller’s role. The concept encompasses both concrete features, such as recurring formulaic phrases, direct address, and pacing, and more abstract ones, like preferred motifs, ethical outlook, or world view transmitted through the teller.

Origins and usage: The term is primarily employed in the study of oral traditions, folklore, and narrative theory, where researchers examine how stories carry the voice and social position of their tellers even after transmission. It can apply to written adaptations where an author channels an original storyteller’s style, or to contemporary media where a performer reinterprets an oral performance.

Manifestations: Vertellersporen may appear as frame narratives, episodic structure, performative cues (pauses, emphasis), audience interaction, honorifics or kinship terms, and cross-cultural motifs. They also include the selective retention or omission of details that reflect what the teller valued or remembered.

Significance: Identifying vertellersporen helps scholars understand how storytelling shapes memory, authority, and community identity. It also aids in tracing transmission networks and the evolution of narratives across genres and media.

Limitations: Distinguishing the teller’s imprint from authorial or editorial influence can be challenging; multiple tellers or editors may contribute overlapping traces.