FEATURES OF LOCAL COLOR IN LITERATURE | AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE

  

Local color presents distinct characteristics in culture and traditions in a reading text. Reading such literature would give you a glimpse of what used to be or how the characters differ from the usual characters in the American or English literature. In Afro-Asian literature local culture is most rich. Here are the features of local color in literature.

·         Dialect

The use of certain words in the dialect of the origin of the narrative adds credibility and authenticity to the roots of the characters or the setting itself. This proves the setting to be mostly inaccessible.

 

Example

Nai Hah Tong waited patiently for the priest. The only sound he heard was the lonely call of the gecko lizard hiding in a crack of the stucco wall of the wat. He counted the lizard’s croaks nung, song, sam, see, ha, hok, jet. The Gold Harvest Tale from Thailand

 

Here in this text the author uses the Thai counting to validate the setting of the story. This validates the character, Nai Hah Tong, as a Thai who has distinct dialect or language from the rest of the world. Hence, the distinctive plot.

 

·         Mannerisms

The use of certain personality traits distinct to the region which may prove peculiar to the readers.

 

Examples

Bharat made a passionate plea for Rama to return and rule Kosalas but all in vain. Bharat then took Rama’s sandals to place them on the throne as testimony to the people that he was ruling in Rama’s name. The Ramayana Tale from India

 

This trait of taking anything that belongs to a person to testify the latter’s consent is distinct to India especially during that time. This is peculiar particularly that it is the throne of the kingdom that is at stake here and it only took a sandal to prove that the bearer now is king.

 

·         Social Customs

The use of rituals adherence to the old ways which may tend to ignite curiosity among readers. These rituals and customs are mostly related to religion and beliefs. 

 

Examples

“No,” they said “We want to go with you to your people” But Naomi replied, it is better for you to return to your own people. Do I have younger sons who could grow up to be your husband? No, my daughters, return to your parents’ homes, for I am too old to have a husband. And even if that were possible and I become pregnant tonight, and bore sons, would you wait for them to grow up? No, of course not, my daughters: oh, how I grieve for you that the Lord has punished me in a way that injures you.” The Story of Ruth (from Israel)

 

This presents a custom of the old Israel wherein a daughter-in-law is under the care of her mother-in-law when her husband dies. In this case Naomi’s husband died, who was supposed to be head of the family to whom the decision on what befalls on the widowed daughter-in-law when her husband dies. It also presents a possibility of the daughter-in-law to be married to her brother-in-law had there been any living younger brother left to marry when the husband dies. This is another queer experience if you put it in the perspective of the modern world.

 

·         Historical References

The use of significant historical event or characters of the specific region to promote believability to the turn of events in the narrative. These references you have yet to validate the truthfulness or let’s say the part that connects to real events. This may include names or titles that reflect the origin of a time-bound event/occasion known only to a certain place or locale. 

Example

But one morning their sawali door rustled. Then slowly it opened The head of an aliping namamahay –house slave- showed. Magindanao Pearls by Isidro L. Retizos

 

This made a significant reference to Pre-Hispanic Filipino social classes particularly that of the servants not slave, there is a difference. There were two classes of servants back then, the aliping sagigilid and aliping namamahay. The text made mention of an aliping namamahay who is higher in rank than the sagigilid. The aliping namamahay mentioned in this part of the text is the servant in Sinagtala’s household. This also suggest that Sinagtala’s family are free men as they have servants.

    Object

The use of certain objects reflective of their origin from a certain region. For example the use of "jeepney" which is widely used in the Philippines. The use of "chopsticks" in a household would suggest that the family has Asian roots.

"Look well towards the center of the plaza, look across it, and fix your gaze on that small tower of bamboo and nipa that is the belfry of the town. Friar Botod by Graciano Lopez Jaena Translated by Phyllis Tiongco

Commonly nipa was used by the Filipinos in building houses together with bamboo during the Pre-Hispanic period.

Originally published at jeanillec.blogspot.com

in July of 2021