Who are the "folk" in Folklore?
You are the folk. Today's folklorists recognize that whether
you live on a farm or in a high-rise, you have a folklore. In fact, regardless
of your income or education, you are rich in folklore. If you have a job, you
know the specialized jargon that comes with the occupation. Though you might not
have a job that spills over with jargon (such as construction
or railroading) most jobs,
even working the night shift at Burger King, provide some distinct words or phrases.
Further, as a member of a family, you likely learn and pass on stories about relatives,
eat certain foods for Thanksgiving, and have an effect on each other's vocabulary
and pronunciation. As a member of a social class, interest group, or ethnic group
(take a look a
some Irish folk medicine), you will have also collected and shared an abundance
of folklore. Of course, if you would like to read about a folk society--where
behavior and folklore are intricately intertwined--you can look
at a few observations I made after my June 2002 visit with the Old Order Amish
in Michigan.
