Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/293

285 NOTES AND QUERIES.

Folk-lore Terminology.—In the August number of Mélusine, M. Gaidoz draws attention to the great importance of determining the terminology of the science of comparative mythology. There can be no doubt that this work is very much needed, but not more so, I would venture to suggest, than the determination of the terminology of the science of folk-lore. It will be gathered from this way of putting it that I claim for folk-lore a distinct and separate existence from "Comparative Mythology"; and though I know that in most minds, and I should judge in that of M. Gaidoz himself, the two terms are synonymous, or nearly so, yet I would urge that the settlement of this very question of terminology would set at rest all doubts about this primary question. It seems a little curious that after six years of existence for the Folk-Lore Society we should not yet have satisfactorily settled the proper meaning of the term "Folk-lore." Mr. Lang has over and over again protested against its misuse, but I think that even his definition of it as a study of survivals does not comprehend all the functions that the science of folk-lore properly includes. I have been studying this question for some time past with a view of writing an introduction to the science of folk-lore, which is now far advanced towards completion; but the many difficulties and the many differences of opinion on most subjects connected with the study of folk-lore have made me hesitate to promulgate my own opinion as one which should govern folk-lorists. Still there can be no doubt that the subject wants taking up in this way; and I shall be happy to lead off the discussion in these columns by printing my own definition of folk-lore, if by so doing I can obtain the opinions of other Members of the Society, and by this means thrash the question out.

Besides, however, the primary question as to the scope and meaning of the science of folk-lore, there are several subsidiary points in folklore terminology to settle. The Folk-Tale Committee was met at the very outset by the difficulty of a standard title for stories which belonged to one class—such as, we will say, the Cinderella class. All