Author Archives: Elluz Martinez

Dime con Quien Andas y te Dire Quien Eres

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 51
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Koreatown
Performance Date: April 29, 2015
Primary Language: Spanish

RH was born in Santa Catarina La Chatao, a pueblo in Oaxaca, Mexico. All of the proverbs that she knows she learned from her mother who learned them from her mother and so on. Proverbs[Dichos] are a more subtle way of communicating in Mexican culture, and are ways of having entire conversations with only one sentence. Most dichos speak of faults that can be found in human nature and how that can lead to fall out among kin and kith groups.

 

 

Dime con quien andas y te dire quien eres.

 

Tell me with who you interact with an I will tell you who you are.
This proverb is about being careful of who you befriend. It is mostly used for people who are searching for an identity among the wrong people and do not seem to realize that they are making the wrong choices.

Dios los Crea y Ellos Se Juntan

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 51
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Koreatown
Performance Date: April 29, 2015
Primary Language: Spanish

RH was born in Santa Catarina La Chatao, a pueblo in Oaxaca, Mexico. All of the proverbs that she knows she learned from her mother who learned them from her mother and so on. Proverbs[Dichos] are a more subtle way of communicating in Mexican culture, and are ways of having entire conversations with only one sentence. Most dichos speak of faults that can be found in human nature and how that can lead to fall out among kin and kith groups.

 

 

Dios los crea y ellos se juntan

 

God creates them and they bring themselves together

 

 

This proverb is used in a negative context. It speaks of two people who have faults in common and come together thus increasing the negative aspects of themselves and each other. It is used in reference to couples who cause conflicts with other people, usually by spreading rumors and gossip.

 

Dime de que Presumes y te Dire de que Careses

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 51
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Koreatown
Performance Date: April 29, 2015
Primary Language: Spanish

RH was born in Santa Catarina La Chatao, a pueblo in Oaxaca, Mexico. All of the proverbs that she knows she learned from her mother who learned them from her mother and so on. Proverbs[Dichos] are a more subtle way of communicating in Mexican culture, and are ways of having entire conversations with only one sentence. Most dichos speak of faults that can be found in human nature and how that can lead to fall out among kin and kith groups.

 

 

Dime de que presumes y te dire de que careses

 

Tell me what you boast of and I will tell you of what you are made of

 

 

For my mother this proverb means that a person makes presumptions about their worth without having proved themselves. It is used when a person boasts about being able to do things but never showing that they are capable of doing them. It is mostly used against people who try to make themselves out to be of a higher caste/position than they are.

 

Mas Sabe el Diablo por Viejo que por Diablo

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 51
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Koreatown
Performance Date: April 29, 2015
Primary Language: Spanish

RH was born in Santa Catarina La Chatao, a pueblo in Oaxaca, Mexico. All of the proverbs that she knows she learned from her mother who learned them from her mother and so on. Proverbs[Dichos] are a more subtle way of communicating in Mexican culture, and are ways of having entire conversations with only one sentence. Most dichos speak of faults that can be found in human nature and how that can lead to fall out among kin and kith groups.

 

 

Mas sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo

 

The devil knows more due to being old rather than being the devil

 

To my mother this proverb means that people are knowledgeable due to their age and experience rather than for a title they may hold as is the case of the devil. It is an interesting saying and shows the contrast of a culture where respect for the elderly is expected which is unlike American culture where respect is given due to titles rather than age.

Presidential Joke-Harry Truman

Performance Date: April 11, 2015
Primary Language: English

This joke was collected from a fanfiction story called “Every Day A Holiday I :Summer” in The Sentinel fandom. The premise of the fic is that one of the protagonist is dared by his partner to find a unique holiday for every day for a period of three months. This particular joke was for the August 11th holiday: Presidential Joke Day.

 

 

The Trumans were taking a tour of a farm, being shown around separately. In the chicken yard Bess said, ‘Only one rooster for all these hens?’ The farmer told her it was no problem, as the rooster could ahem perform his duty many times a day. Bess said, ‘Tell that to the president.’ Later Harry was brought around to the hen yard, and the farmer relayed Mrs. Truman’s comment. The president said, ‘With the same chicken each time?’ ‘No sir, with a different chicken each time.’ ‘Tell that to Mrs. Truman.
This joke was posted as a part of a story dealing with two characters who are work partners and roommates who through the course of celebrating holidays find a new depth to their relationship which transitions from platonic to romantic. It was thus interesting that the premise of this joke was infidelity and making light of that situation. However, in the context of the story is could serve as a contrast to the relationship already held by the protagonists and gradual change into a deeper relationship. Through the course of celebrating holidays, the couple is able to work through any lingering problems that they may have and settle into a more stable situation.