Why do many Oceanic oral texts require knowledge of local place-names and land divisions?

In Oceanic literature, many oral texts are presented in an allusive manner that relies heavily on specific cultural imagery to convey meaning. Because these texts are deeply embedded within the culture that produced them, they require an intimate understanding of local place-names, political geography, and land divisions to be fully interpreted.1

This necessity arises because the imagery used in these traditions is often tied to specific locations. For instance, certain animals serve as symbolic representations of particular areas—such as an owl, a lizard, or a sea eagle being associated with different, specific sites. Furthermore, mythological figures in these cycles often function as both general symbols and local divinities, with cultural heroes assigned to specific places where individuals establish a reverential connection. Without this localized knowledge, the significance of the imagery and the deeper meaning of the text remain inaccessible to nonnative readers.12