“For thousands of years, people all over the world have loved to listen to stories. Some stories explained why the stars twinkle or the ocean roars (...) and some stories were important lessons for living successfully and happily with family and friends. (...) Before writing systems were invented, the only way people could pass on their histories, customs and beliefs from generation to generation was by telling stories. This telling and retelling of stories could almost be called a ‘speach-teach’”.

(Muriel Paskin Carrison, “Cambodian Folk Stories”, Tuttle Publ., 1987).