Sign, Structure, Story

This comprehensive volume offers a framework for understanding the descriptive and prescriptive functions of oral narratives. Drawing upon narratological theory and linguistic analysis, it traces the evolution of folktales across generations, showcasing how they adapt to changing societal contexts while maintaining their core functions. The book investigates the intersections of language, culture, and narrative, offering a rich, cross-disciplinary perspective that highlights the enduring relevance of oral traditions in constructing and preserving ethnic identity. It examines how narrative forms contribute to the continuity of cultural memory, linguistic diversity, and social cohesion. Exploring the narratological and linguistic structures of Dogri folktales, this study illuminates a crucial facet of the cultural heritage of the Dogra community in Jammu and Kashmir. Folktales are presented not merely as entertainment but as powerful tools of cultural transmission, embodying deeply rooted moral, social, and philosophical values. This book will be of great interest to students, researchers, and educators in the fields of linguistics, folklore studies, cultural anthropology, literature, and South Asian studies. It will also serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, cultural preservationists, and general readers.