Whenever myths purport to explain such matters as origins of geographic features, animal traits, rites, taboos, and customs, they are known as explanatory or etiological narratives.

• 当神话旨在解释地形地貌、动物特征、仪式、禁忌、习俗等事象的起源时，这些神话就成了人们所熟知的阐释性或溯源性叙事作品。