kerroissa

Kerroissa is a term used in folklore studies and narrative theory to refer to information, knowledge, or memories that are transmitted primarily through storytelling within a community. It emphasizes the role of spoken narrative as a vessel for cultural meaning, rather than formal documents or institutional records.

The word is Finnish, formed from kertoa (to tell) and the inessive suffix -ssa, yielding “in stories.” In academic usage, kerroissa denotes the medium through which knowledge is shared and preserved, highlighting the social and performative aspects of telling.

Applications of the concept appear in oral history, legend studies, and cultural memory research. Scholars analyze how kerroissa shapes collective memory, identity, and social norms by examining what motifs recur, how stories are framed, and how audience interaction during storytelling influences interpretation and retention. The study of kerroissa often considers variations between tellings, transmission chains, and the ways power and status affect whose stories are told and remembered.

Key features associated with kerroissa include narrative structure, performative context, and communal validation. Storytelling events, family lore, and local traditions are common contexts where kerroissa operates, serving functions such as bonding, teaching norms, and negotiating communal values.

Critiques and limitations include the potential distortion or selective recollection inherent in oral transmission, challenges in verifying accuracy, and the need to distinguish kerroissa from other knowledge sources. Ethical considerations also arise when recording and analyzing intimate or sacred oral narratives.

See also: Folklore, Oral history, Narrative theory, Cultural memory.