Author Archives: Nadiia Sas

Folk Speech

This saying comes from a subject who is a second generation Mexican-American. The expression in Spanish is “cucuy”. Cucuy is an adjective referring to something that scary – usually at atmosphere. The subject explained that the word would be used in the context of describing something terrifying: for example, if a person is asked to go to the cemetery at night, they would say something along the lines of “Definitely not! It’s cucuy in there.” According to the subject, the word “cucuy” doesn’t have a direct translation as it is the name of a Mexican folklore creature named El Cucuy. El Cucuy is a character of a ghost story, and was paralleled by the subject with a boogeyman. So in this case, the name of the ghost story character has become a synonym to adjectives like scary and terrifying. The subject noted, that cucuy is usually used when describing something beyond just scary – usually it refers to something paranormal, possessed or demonic, and that it has a direct tie to the tale. It is an intense word that is used to describe terror. The subject’s parents often described scary movies as “cucuy” if it had demons and monsters.

The use of “cucuy” as an adjective highlights the ways in which folklore and language evolve within cultural communities. Rather than simply meaning “scary,” the word carries a deeper connotation tied to the supernatural This in a great example of how storytelling influences and shapes linguistic expression. The subject’s explanation demonstrates how a folklore creature expands beyond its narrative origins to become a widely used descriptor for terrifying experiences. As a second-generation Mexican-American, the subject’s use of “cucuy” also reflects the integration and mix of cultural influences. While the expression keeps its deep folkloric roots, it has also adapted to modern and bilingual conversations.

Folk Metaphor

One of my friends, who was born and raised in France, shared a popular saying that she has heard and used throughout her childhood. In French, it is “Poser un lapin” which translates to “To drop a bunny”. According to the subject, this is a casual expression which is a metaphor for standing someone up. A contextual example would be if a person invited someone for coffee, and that person agreed to come but never showed up. A person who invited then could say that their friends “dropped a bunny on me”. According to the subject, the bunny being a subject of this saying is because he is a metaphor for “hopping away from the plans”. So, bunny’s natural tendencies of movement are compared here with the action of “skipping” plans or standing someone up.

I found this saying very interesting, as I couldn’t have guessed right away what it meant. It is important to note, how the phrase was created in order to express a certain action and allow for the feeling of disdain towards the universal experience of being stood up. Upon further analysis of the movement of the bunny being compare to the human action, one can see a similarity between the animal’s quick and unpredictable movements that reflect the people who deviate from the plans. It is also interesting how the saying can be perceived as humorous and lighthearted. This tone contrasts the uncomfortable feeling of being stood up, but in the way, acts as a tension diffuser that softens negative situations and helps people not taking the unfortunate situation too seriously or being too harsh on another person.

Curses

A curse I have collected in my folklore discussion class is “I’m gonna break your kneecaps and ship you to North Korea.” My subject identified the context of this curse as a playful saying that she has heard from her friend in middle school. They explained that this curse is used when someone’s friend says or does something annoying or mean and one then says the curse as a playful threat. One could say that this curse is a euphemism for the much harsher, adult “F you” in middle school, but in this case it is serving a purpose of a gentle warning as well as a tool for immediate reconciliation because of it’s humorous nature.

It is interesting how the curse in this case is a playful thing, and how it is used by usually a friend, or someone that is close to the person. Moreover, it seems like the curse is an example of a social boundary in friendships. It is used as a relatively funny and non-confrontational tool to tell a friend that they have done something that perhaps crossed the boundary of another person.

Proverb Collection

In the folklore discussion class, I have gathered a proverb from my classmate: “A picture is worth a thousand of words”. When asked where the subject heard the proverb, they answered that most likely they read it on Tumblr. The teammate said that they liked the proverb because in their opinion pictures are a “cool medium mixed with film and music” and that it makes them a powerful storytelling method. It is important to note, that the subject is a music major with a minor in cinema and has experience and passion towards the visuals. The subject identified the context of the proverb as taking pictures of the loved ones and friends. Their definition of a picture is capturing a memory.

It is interesting how the subject got familiar with the proverb and that is from social media. Social media very often creates the folklore – such as memes, popular sayings, and most recently “brainrot vocabulary”. In this case, Tumblr acts as modern folklore hub, where users not only encounter proverbs but also shape their meanings through personal and cultural lenses. The subject’s engagement with the proverb through digital space exemplifies how folklore continues to timelessly evolve in the digital age.

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Metaphor

A subject told me about “Nose Goes”. Essentially, it is a game used to determine who gets stuck with a task that no one wants to do. My subject learned of the game from her younger siblings, when their mother asked someone to take out the trash. Her youngest sister put the index finger on her nose and yelled out “Nose goes!” The other siblings placed their fingers as fast as possible on their noses, except for my subject. She was not aware of the game and therefore lost it. The game is all about speed, at the person who doesn’t get it fast or is the last to place the finger on their nose – loses. According to my subject, the game is primarily used by children, to determine who will perform the dreaded task.

It is interesting how “nose goes” is like a game that starts spontaneously by one person, and everyone has to follow the suit. Now a person who is not aware of the rules is at the disadvantage. This however demonstrates the unwritten customs can shape group interactions. The game is funny because it feels fair but it really isn’t. There is no talking or deciding, just a quick reaction that determines who loses. The silly game shows how people naturally create little rules to assign tasks, giving an advantage to those who already know how it works.