Learn French: Ce mythe se raconte oralement depuis le siècle dernier. - This myth has been told orally since the last century.

In French, it is very common to use a reflexive verb (the pronominal passive) for an inanimate subject like a myth. While est raconté is also grammatically correct, se raconte is the much more natural and frequent way to say "is told" or "gets told" when we do not specify who is telling it.

Why is se raconte in the present tense when the English translation says "has been told"?

This is a classic difference between French and English! When an action started in the past and is still happening right now, French uses the present tense combined with depuis (since/for). Because the myth is still being told today, it stays in the present tense.

Why does dernier come after siècle instead of before it?

The meaning of dernier changes depending on its position. When it comes after a time-related word (like le siècle dernier or l'année dernière), it means "last" as in "the previous one". If you put it before the noun (le dernier siècle), it changes the meaning to "the final century".

How does the word oralement get its ending?