FOLKLORU EN KÜÇÜK HALK GRUBUNA ODAKLANDIRMAK: AİLE FOLKLORU
CONCENTRATING FOLKLORE TO THE SMALLEST SOCIAL UNIT: FAMILY FOLKLORE

Summary/Abstract: Folklore was founded in the 19th century as a branch of cultural studies, and flourished in the 20th century - namely at the hands of Northern American folklorists. New sub-branches, methods, and techniques were introduced. Likewise, family folklore – the importance of which became apparent in the 1950s within the context of the folkloric capacity of various social groups – gradually emerged into a disseminating research field in its own right by the 1970s. Similarly, many a Turkish folklorist has examined certain aspects of family folklore. However, they have yet to conduct any holistic research (which refer to any form of definition, scope, or methodology). Undoubtedly, were they to consider the dynamic characteristics of the family in their respective social and cultural contexts, they would be able to conduct more meaningful research on the folkloric capacity and repertoire of the Turkish family. This would in turn benefit folklore in general, as well as offer invaluable data for other fields of study that concentrate on the [Turkish] family. In this study, we have achieved four things. First, we have conducted a qualitative survey of the literature. Second, we defined the dynamics of family folklore within the scope of the concept of group folklore. Third, we assessed family folklore studies in terms of chronology, objective, scope and method, all the while drawing upon experiences of Northern American folklorists, namely those specializing in sociology, social anthropology, and social psychology. Finally, we remarked on method and scope, in an attempt to establish a scientific framework for future folkloric studies focusing on Turkish family folklore.

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