Category Archives: Folk speech

“Time is money, you’re a big spender”

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Text:
The informant, A, recalls a high school classmate saying, “Time is money, you’re a big spender,” whenever they were working on tedious task such as a project or in-class exercise and felt it was taking too long.

Context:
The classmate would usually say this during group projects or in class work sessions, especially when the work felt repetitive or long.

Analysis:
This saying twists the common phrase “Time is money” by adding humor. Instead of saying they’re wasting time, the classmate plays with the idea that they’re “spending” it freely. Even though they weren’t literally losing money, the comparison made it clear that spending too much time on something unproductive can feel like a loss, similar to a financial loss. The lighthearted delivery might also suggest a coping mechanism for dealing with the frustration of tedious work.

“For beauty, you must suffer.”

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Text:
When A was in high school and had pimples, her mother would pop them for her. Whenever A complained that it hurt, her mother would respond, “For beauty, you must suffer.”

Context:
The informant, A, recalls hearing this phrase frequently from her mother, especially during moments involving personal grooming that were physically uncomfortable, like popping pimples or plucking eyebrows. While A understood that her mother meant it lightheartedly, it also reflected a deeper, often unspoken expectation around beauty standards. A noted that this phrase extended beyond skincare. For example, her mother would say it when discussing the discomfort of wearing heels or shapewear like Spanx.

Analysis:
This phrase highlights how societal beauty standards, specifcally for women, are often tied to discomfort or even pain. The expectation is that beauty requires sacrifice, whether it’s enduring physical discomfort or investing significant time and effort. It reinforces the idea that beauty is an achievement rather than an inherent trait, one that must be worked for and maintained. The fact that the phrase was passed down from mother to daughter goes to show how these standards are often perpetuated within families, sometimes without conscious reflection. Ultimately, the saying reflects a broader cultural narrative about the price of fitting into conventional ideals of beauty.

“Tinye ya n’isi m”

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Text:

“Tinye ya n’isi m”

Translation: “Put it on my head”

Context:

The informant, I, remembers hearing this phrase from her mother whenever she asked where to put something or needed help with a small task. It was used in a sarcastic or funny way, especially when the task seemed boring or annoying. For example, if she asked her mom where to place a bag or a book, her mom might respond with “Tinye ya n’isi m” meaning she didn’t want to deal with it but was joking about it. This phrase is common in Nigerian families and shows how people use humor to deal with minor frustrations. Interestingly, the informant now uses this saying on her own children.

Analysis:

“Tinye ya n’isi m” or “Put it on my head” is a playful way of showing frustration without being rude. In Nigerian culture, this phrase is often said in a lighthearted manner to show that a task is not important or is irritating, but without being too serious. It shows how family members use humor to express annoyance while keeping things friendly and fun. The phrase is an example of folklore, as it reflects shared cultural practices and expressions passed down through generations.

“Clap for yourself!”

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Text:

“Clap for yourself!”

Context:

The informant, I, remembers hearing this phrase a lot in Nigerian culture when someone does something that doesn’t really deserve praise but acts like it does. It’s usually said sarcastically, especially when someone makes a mistake or brags about a small task. For example, when she would boast about doing something simple like cleaning up her room, her mother would often say “Clap for yourself!” to humorously point out that it’s not worth bragging about.

Analysis:

“Clap for yourself” is a funny way to tease someone who thinks they’ve done something great when it’s actually not that impressive. It’s often used to make fun of someone who is overestimating their actions. This phrase is a part of Nigerian culture and is used to joke with friends or family in a lighthearted way. It shows how humor is used to remind people to stay humble and not get carried away with small achievements. Even though it points out someone’s mistake or exaggeration, it’s said in a fun, teasing way to keep the mood relaxed and friendly.

Minor Genres: Proverbs – Salt

  1. Text: “Δεν γνωρίζεις πραγματικά κάποιον μέχρι να φας ένα καράβι αλάτι μαζί του” or “You don’t truly know someone until you’ve eaten a boatload of salt with them”.
  2. Informants Context: In my village where I was originally born, we were not educated. We had very little compared to what people have today. I was born and raised in the village of Nestane, in the province of Arcadia, Greece. Because we had so little available to us, our lives became dependent on how we could trust one another within our small community. There was no one who could help us besides the people who were in the community. We had no technology back then, there weren’t big cities near by and travelling to the ones that were farther away was very expensive. We had very little money. So again, the only support we had around us was through the people we knew. This is why Greeks are so close to their family – when you come from humble means, your blood is the only thing you can trust and rely on. So, when you meet someone new who isn’t your family, you can’t know whether to trust them or not. It’s not possible to truly know someone until you’ve spent a large amount of time with them. That’s what the saying means. You don’t know the true character of a person until you’ve shared enough meals with them that you can fill all the salt from those meals combined into a filled boat. This was a common saying that emerged out of my village, often spoken by people around us. It was my father who first gave me this advice. He always intended to make me aware of how two-faced people could be. Be very careful about who you let into your house. Once you have shared meals with a person though, you will have “passed through salt” with them. This is all one needs to know that they have become like family.
  3. Collectors Interpretation: This is not only a succinct and revealing proverb, it is also a ritual of initiation. Anyone who participates and upholds this mantra must first go through a long and intimate relationship with another Greek before they know they can truly trust each other. It reflects how Greek culture hinges around concepts of loyalty, perception and trust. It’s typical that Greeks will have said they have, “passed through salt” together once they’ve known each other long enough. This means that the two people have known each other long enough to pass this initiation alongside each other and become true friends. This proverb also relates to personal concepts of trust and trauma that the informant may have lingering from their childhood of humble means. As this is the proverb of a village, it comes with great authority – it is the voice and agreed upon value of an entire community.

Fields

AGE: 87

Date_of_performance: May 9, 2025

Language: Greek

Nationality: Greek/Canadian

Occupation: Retired

Primary Language: Greek

Residence: Canada