On oral historical sources

Abstract

Oral sources are fundamental historical materials that appear in many different types of historical taxonomy. In Vietnam, although the use of this type of source has a relatively long tradition in historical compilation, the perception of oral sources is still problematic and different from a common understanding of oral sources in the world. Our understanding of oral sources also does not fully cover the forms of actual historical information that have been commonly used in historical research of Vietnam. This article is based on analyzing the views of Western historians on the concept of oral sources, their roles, and different categories that are seen in world history and Vietnamese history. The aim is to present a more complete and up-to-date concept of oral history in Vietnam, where eyewitness accounts need to have a proper presence in the genealogy of historical sources.