engleski

What is 'real' in believing in supernatural beings? The informant's cut

Recent field research of traditional beliefs in supernatural beings (werewolves, fairies, witches, mòras, etc.) among the inhabitants of Dalmatian hinterland showed that such beliefs are still present within certain groups. This fact opens up a possibility of asking present day informers different kinds of questions, not often asked in folkloristic and ethnological dealings with the topic in these regions. First and foremost these refer to the question of what the informants themselves think about believing in supernatural beings, why people believe in them and talk about them. Thus in this paper there will be no talk about the nature, doings and names of supernatural beings or narrative forms they occupy, but about the thoughts and explanations of the very informants. Through informants’ own interpretations and additional information on them gathered on the basis of a modified questionnaire (the informant’s social status, profession, education and migrations from the Dalmatian hinterland) we will be able to better understand the reality of the informant’s relationship toward believing in and narrating about supernatural beings.

supernatural beings; informants; Dalmatian hinterland; present

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