Introduction, translation and review of the book "The Rules of Folklore" by Lynn S. McNeil

The book Rules of Folklore: A Readable, Concise, and Practical Introduction to the Academic Study of Folklore, by Lynn S. McNeil, assistant professor at Utah State University, United States of America, is, as its title suggests, a work that discusses in a coherent and concise manner the generalities, concepts, fundamental elements, and methods of analyzing folklore as an academic discipline. He examines and critically describes the foundations of this field of study in five chapters, each of which covers a part of this scientific field. The following translation is an attempt to accurately and scientifically translate the contents of the aforementioned work, so that the Iranian academic community can benefit from its materials, and with its help, collect and, more importantly, “analyze” Iranian folklore; An aspect of folk studies that has been neglected by many of our predecessors and pioneers; accordingly, the importance and necessity of translating such a work lies not only in expanding the nascent field of "folk culture and literature", but also in providing analytical tools and systems in the study of "folklore phenomena". An important point that is explained in detail in the "Criticism and Review" section. Wherever a direct translation has been ambiguous for a Persian-speaking audience, the translator has tried to help the understanding and comprehension of the material by providing explanations under reference or explanatory footnotes at the end of each chapter and by attaching evidence from the indigenous culture of Iran-Zamen.