THE GIFT OF SPEECH - APPROACH TO THE VERB AL-ART OF THE GUARANI IN BOLIVIA AND ARGENTINA

Oratory plays a fundamental role among the Guarani Indians of South Am erica. Since precolonial times orators held positions of respect and a uthority. Through their discourse, orators convey culturally embedded messages which transmit the history, myths, and cultural values of the ir societies. This paper compares the role of orators, both political and religious, and the production of discourse among two Guarani speak ing groups: the Mbya Guarani Indians of Argentina and the Izoceno of B olivia. We approach oratory as part of a performance which cannot be i solated from the context in which it is produced.