A Formalist Analysis of Poetic and Cultural Expression in the Shina Folk Song Tavau Gai (wedding song) practiced in Gilgit Baltistan

Abstract

This study aims to identify formal elements of Tavau Gai, the renowned cultural Shina folk song through formalism described by Jakobson and Shklovsky. This study analyzes the formal elements like poetics, form, devices, literariness, foregrounding, and defamiliarization as have been suggested by the above stated theorists. By employing the formalist analytical approach, the study scrutinized the formal elements through textual analysis. The study found that Tavau Gai possessed rich poetical elements such as repetition, alliteration, consonance, and assonance to create a rich auditory experience. Additionally, the form of the folksongs structured of lines and stanzas which enhanced the memorability and performativity. The analysis further uncovered the role of literary devices in conveying deeper themes, such as norms and values, religion and cultural identity that highlighted the significance of Shina folk songs within the oral tradition. Finally, this research contributed to the understanding of how formal elements in folk song facilitate cultural expression and preservation in the Shina-speaking communities.

Key Words: Formalism, Formalistic Elements, Tavau Gai, Folksong