Introduction:
Definition of the proverb has been elusive to scholars through the decades. Scholar Archer Taylor once said, “The definition of a proverb is too difficult to repay the undertaking.” While clearly defining a proverb may be an unhelpful pursuit, it is possible to note that proverbs share common features that make them identifiable:
- short verbal saying
- Offer wisdom or socially sanctioned advice
- Use metaphor to relate the situation in the proverb to the situation of the receiver or speaker of the proverb.
- Classify situations and provide ways to resolve them
Proverbs therefore serve the common purpose of alleviating social tension and providing advice in face of a given situation.
Our Analysis
We attempted to analyze each collected proverb in three ways, all of which are presented in Alan Dundes’ The Wisdom of Many: Essays on the Proverb.
- By Formula: Dundes noted that proverbs tend to fit into a few different formulas:
- Better ____ than ______. Ex: “Better late than never.”
- A ______ is a ________. Ex: “A proverb is a true word.”
- ______ never _______. Ex: “Barking dogs never bite.”
- ______ or _______. Ex: “Live free or die.”
2. By Image: what type of image does the proverb convey?
- Humorous, serious, sad, etc
3. Message: the interpretation and use of the proverb
Conclusions
After collecting and examining our proverbs, our group formulated the following conclusions:
- Students tended not to know as many proverbs as adults and professionals.
- Religious proverbs: Biblical to humerous
- The Hebrew Proverb, “Do not rejoice at your enemy’s downfall.” vs the Yiddish Proverb “Do not rejoice at your enemy’s downfall, but also do not help them get up.”
- The Catholic Proverb, “There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.” vs. its usage in a less literal context
- In diasporic communities, proverbs also serve to teach children about family’s heritage culture.
- learned in more formal contexts such as language schools or from religious instructors as seen with Spanish, Chinese, and Jewish proverbs
- Seen in Russian culture to push national ideals
- Friends vs Family
- Jewish proverbs: equal influence in proverbs
- Spanish proverbs: family over friends
- Chinese and Christian proverbs: friends over family
- Russian proverbs: the group over the individual
- Chinese proverbs follow a formulaic structure and put more emphasis on sounds in certain instances than other proverbs.
- All of the cultures examined had a fair mixture of light, humorous proverbs and serious proverbs, except for those in Chinese.
- Structure of proverbs were more broad than suggested by Dundes
Presentation:
Proverbs Presentation (as a pdf)
Items
Spanish Proverbs
- Old Devil (Family)
- Donkey Ears (Friends)
- Family is Forever
- Raising Crows (Family)
- Similarities (Friends)
- Beans (Family)
- Who do hang out with? (Friends)
- Gift Horse (Friends)
- Stay Positive (Family)
- Fake Friend (Friends)
- Family vs. Friends (Family)
Chinese Proverbs
- Support (Friends)
- Other’s Eyes (Friends)
- Judging Friends
- True Friends
- Dissimilar People
- Company Matters
- Behind Our Backs
- Forest and Trees
- Walking with a Friend
- Gold
- Need
Jewish/Yiddish Proverbs
- 50 Plagues
- Rich Man
- Narrow Bridge
- Head in the Ground
- Relationship Expectations in Judaism
- Understanding and Listening
- Duty to Others
- Elder Respect
- Difficult Person
- Teacher and Student
- Enemy’s Downfall
- Cost of Friends vs Enemies
- Enemy’s Downfall- Humorous Version
Catholic Proverbs
- Family and Sainthood
- Saints and Martyrs
- Life Rules
- Blood of the Covenant
- No Greater Gift
- The Whole Person
Russian Proverbs
- A Loyal Friend
- An Old Friend
- Business and Friendship
- Friends and Rubles
- Working and Eating
- Waiting for One
- One Head, Two Heads
Collectors:
- William Baddoo
- Zachary Benjamin
- Hannah Margolis
- Madison Minsk
- Allie Norris
- Vi Nguyen
- James Wen
- Rachel Zhao
Tags/Keywords
- Family
- Friends
- Relationships
- Catholic Proverbs
- Jewish/Yiddish Proverbs
- Spanish Proverbs
- Chinese Proverbs
- Russian Proverbs