The Concept of "Literary Tradition" is Complex:
* Oral vs. Written: Some cultures have rich oral traditions of storytelling, poetry, and song that predate written language. Should these be considered literary traditions?
* Formal vs. Informal: What constitutes "literature" is subjective. Some cultures value formal, written works, while others may focus on everyday language and speech.
* Historical Context: Some languages might have only recently developed written forms, or their literary traditions might have been suppressed or lost due to historical events.
Evidence Suggests a Wide Range:
* Numerous Examples: There are documented literary traditions in languages from all over the world, spanning various genres, styles, and time periods.
* Unwritten Traditions: Many languages with less-documented traditions likely have rich oral histories, folklore, and song.
The Bottom Line:
* While a written literary tradition is not universally present, it's safe to say that most languages have some form of storytelling, poetic expression, or cultural knowledge transmission that could be considered a literary tradition, even if it's primarily oral.
* The scope and form of these traditions vary significantly between languages and cultures.
It's important to avoid assuming that the absence of a formal written literary tradition means a language is lacking in artistic or cultural richness.