“The listening of memory”: the oral narrative as a source of memory

Abstract

This article intends to reflect about the oral report recognized by us as a source of memory. The search presents a linguistic foundation anchored in the studies of the linguist Émile Benveniste, especially those aimed at the presence of man in the language. With regard to the issue of memory, we seek a philosophical view, supporting ourselves in the reflections of Paolo Rossi. Methodologically, the analysis procedures result from a bibliographic review, from which concepts are mobilized to be explored in observance of the corpus selected for this study: oral reports bound to the project Listening to memory: Passo Fundo and its stories, produced by the Oral Memory and Image Laboratory of the Graduate Program in History at the University of Passo Fundo. As part of the conclusions, it is observed that the oral narrative is a source of memory capable of presenting the complexity of man’s rela- tions with the world, and should be considered a heritage of society.