LIETUVIŲ LITERATŪROS
IR TAUTOSAKOS
INSTITUTAS
Department of Folk Narrative
The history of the Department of Folk Narrative is related to the general development of folklore studies in Lithuania. Since 1932, the premises of the current Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore—the Vileišiai Palace—housed the Lithuanian Scientific Society (1907-1940). Its folklore collections are still preserved in the Institute’s Lithuanian Folklore Archive, and are published and researched by the Institute’s folklorists. In 1940, the Institute of Lithuanian Studies was transferred from Kaunas to the Vileišiai Palace, and one of its departments was the Department of Lithuanian Folklore headed by Dr. Jonas Balys. During World War II and the post-war years, the name of the Institute and its organizational structure changed several times. In 1952, the Institute of Lithuanian Language and Literature was established, and from 1953, the Folklore Unit was initiated there. In 1990, after a reorganization, the current Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore was founded. Shortly afterwards, on the initiative of the member of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Leonardas Sauka, the Folklore Unit was split into three divisions, one of which was the Department of Folk Narrative. In the past, it was headed by Habil. Dr. Nijolė Laurinkienė, Dr. Daiva Vaitkevičienė and Dr. Lina Būgienė. Dr. Radvilė Racėnaitė is the current head of the department. 
The Department of Folk Narrative fulfills the objectives set out in the Statutes of the Institute, i.e. it carries out theoretical, comparative and interdisciplinary research on old Lithuanian folklore and mythology and on the process of contemporary Lithuanian folklore. The main areas of research are:
 
  • folk narrative research (typology and composition of folktales and legends, folk narrative development processes, newly emerged genres of folk narratives);
  • paremiology (typology and semantics of proverbs and proverbial sayings; comparative studies; contemporary functioning; and situational expressions and phraseology);
  • riddles (typology; structure; poetics and semantics; comparative and historical studies; and traditional and contemporary functioning);
  • magical folklore genres (typology and comparative context of charms and charming practises; structure and semantics of  prayers, divinations and beliefs);
  • the imagery of Baltic religion and mythology.
 
The staff of the department organizes international and national conferences, seminars, book presentations, participates in fieldwork, delivers public lectures, carries out projects, provides consultations, participates in expert activities, and serves on the editorial boards of various journals. Each year, the department organizes a conference on mythology, “Professor Norbertas Vėlius’ Readings,” it also contributes to the Seminars on Inherent Natural Culture. The department cooperates with research and study institutions in Lithuania and abroad, participates in joint scientific and educational projects. The staff of the department actively participates in the joint Ph.D. program in Ethnology of Vilnius University, Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore and the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater, and supervises doctoral students. 
 
The researchers of the department have prepared and published fundamental editions of folklore sources, as well as monographs and studies. They also carry out individual research, the results of which are published in academic journals and in popular publications.   
 
The supervision, constant filling and updating of the catalogues of narrative folklore, proverbs and riddles housed at the department, as well as the creation of e-databases on the basis of these catalogues constitute a significant field of department’s activity.
 
Currently, a long-term research program “Study of Lithuanian Folk Tradition and Its Development” (headed by Dr. Lina Būgienė, 2022-2026) is being implemented.
 
The department employs thirteen staff members, eleven of whom hold a Ph.D. degree, and one emerita. There are twelve Ph.D. students.
 
Researcher Emeritus
 
Principal Researchers
 
Senior Researchers
 
Researchers
 
Junior Researchers
 
PhD students
 
 
 
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