What, and have it modified?

Most folk songs even now are protected by copyright, so modification is sometimes a legal convenience rather than evolution. No. McColl, Lloyd etc all had their "arrangements" copyrighted, so by the 1954 definition would no longer count as folk songs, yet the modification would? Jingles written for adverts are definitely absorbed by a community. Mishearing leads to modification too.. Still serves the subliminal marketing, and would fit into the 1954 definition.

I suppose you could also question from that what a community is. If a community is, say, everybody who likes shanty songs within the world, then the term community is rather self serving. Judging by my neighbours, absorption would count for Wagner one side and whatever the local radio station plays the other!

Communities do not absorb tunes, songs, tradition or otherwise in The UK. Media has made the world a much smaller place, and whilst the 1954 definition could just about have worked then, in small degree, in isolated communities, but not in my street.

Elsewhere on this forum, I have perhaps demonstrated my bemusement at strict definitions, and even suggested that if evolution is part of the game, then folk is, amongst other things, any song sung in a pub acoustically in The UK. It seems to me to be as accurate as any other thing I have heard.

I will always listen to others, and take on board their views, as I hope those who dismiss me would do also. I am not right any more than another view is wrong. But.. and it is a big but.. over the years, I have been annoyed by those who identify such a huge area as folk music as being something to do with their political and social outlook. For my sins, I have been identified as a class traitor, red braces wearer and even scab. (And that's just on this forum in the last couple of months!)

As there is and never can be an international legally binding charter saying what folk music is, (and if there were, it would evolve into something else the next day,) then any definition is as valid as the next. If people are comfortable with the 1954, then whatever floats your boat. If somebody agrees with me that at least in The UK, the output of folk clubs is a decent indicator, then I will be happy. BUT if anybody waffles on about it being an outpouring of a culture to the detriment of other sections of society, then I will argue otherwise.

Anyway Richard; you assume I am white? Mind you, it is assumed I am middle class for that matter. i still have two of everything I should have, just like when I was classed as working class. I just consider myself class, but self delusion is no crime.