SIAMESE STORY TELLING TRADITION IN KELANTAN: A FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS

This article discusses the story telling tradition in the Siamese communities in Kelantan. This tradition has embedded in the communities long before they migrated to Kelantan and has become one of their cultural identities. The most outstanding of the tradition is the menora. Menora is a dance-drama which is performed during the festivals in their communities. Menora has several stories which could be divided into two genres; i.e the main story and the minor stories. The stories are told by professional story tellers. The discussion is based on a story teller named Pak Mat Tok Nora from Kampung Bukit Yong in Pasir Putih, Kelantan who is a professional story teller. The stories have social and religious significant and functions. They instill and enhance the social values such as equality, co-operation caring and peace loving. The stories especially in the form of performances are a major source of the entertainment for the communities.