Author Archives: Trevor

Minor Genre: Proverb 

Nationality: Filipino American
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: USC
Performance Date: 2/16/23
Primary Language: English

“Pag May tiyaga May Nilaga”

Translation: “If you persevere, you will reap the fruits of your labor.” 

Context: The informant first heard this Filipino phrase from their grandparents and then saw as it was passed down to their parents. Essentially describing that persevering and hard work is how you will be successful because success doesn’t come out of nowhere, you need to earn it. Additionally saying “no pain, no gain” or how it takes time for something good to happen, encouraging patience. The informant was always told this phrase when they would be going through difficulties with school, friends, or anything that emotionally or physically affected them. As a whole, this encouraged Filipino children to always work hard for what they want and to make sure they persevere and don’t give up. It allows them to create goals and strive to achieve them even when life gets tough. The fixed phrase is full of wisdom, but that wisdom can be problematic because it illustrates that Filipinos that aren’t succeeding aren’t working hard enough which is false.

Analysis: This proverb gives children and essentially everyone motivation in whatever they are doing. To tell them that you need to work hard to be successful. However, it’s kind of problematic in a way because for certain minority groups, as much as you work hard, you are still at a disadvantage to straight white men. Although it encourages good working habits, you aren’t guaranteed success no matter how hard you work because our society is structured around the needs of straight white men. The rest of society is at a disadvantage already because of the foundation our country was built upon. Even though it’s not the same everywhere around the world, in America, it’s easier said than done for most people. The term is more widely known around the world as “no pain, no gain” which displays that you have to suffer in order to succeed.

Minor Genre: Folk-Object

Nationality: Puerto Rican/Dominican
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: USC
Performance Date: 2/20/23
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

Evil Eye

Context: A symbol that wards off evil. It is used a lot in Santeria which is a mix of Caribbean magic and Catholicism and is kind of considered a form of witchcraft. If you wear it, you are protected. However, you should never buy an evil eye for yourself because it should always be gifted to you or else it is considered a bad omen and will not work. The evil eye is usually worn on pieces of jewelry and has been seen for thousands of years in cultures such in Latin America, Europe, and parts of Asia. To the informant, the evil eye is special to them because their grandmother gave them an evil eye necklace nine years ago and they’ve worn it ever since. It’s a symbol that deflects negative energy towards the person it originated from and allows the wearer to stay safe and protected.

Analysis: It was surprising to find out that if you buy an evil eye for yourself it’s a bad omen because I’ve gotten myself a crystal called the black tourmaline, which has a similar energy to the evil eye that they deflect negative energy and keep you protected from whoever sends that negative energy towards you. However, there is nothing saying it won’t work if you buy it for yourself. It is interesting that now, in contemporary culture, the evil eye symbol has become popular in fashion and home decor, often used in the form of jewelry, clothing, or wall hangings. While some people may use the symbol for its protective qualities, for others it may simply be a fashionable or decorative element in their homes.

Minor Genre: Proverb

Nationality: Russian
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: USC
Performance Date: 2/22/2023
Primary Language: Russian
Language: English

“Не пуха, ни пера, к черту” – translate to “no feathers, to the devil”

Context: Before a competition, interview, exam or something that you needed to do well on, your coach, family members, or friends would say this to you. In a personal context, this was said before her ballet competition in Russia every time she was about to compete in order to have good luck. This proverb is used rhetorically as a fixed phrase and was mainly said by elders to a younger audience. This was a very common phrase she heard growing up in Russia and was something she used as encouragement and confidence to succeed in whatever she was doing. She first heard it from her dad when she went to school for an exam and from then on it became a very common phrase used by the people around her, and eventually her ballet coach. Whether she was at school, in a tournament, or about to do something exhilarating, this was the phrase heard every time.

Analysis: This phrase is very similar to one we have in American culture, “break a leg,” which has the meaning of good luck and is said before an important event that you want to succeed in. As a fixed phrase used to give a blessing, the metaphorical meaning behind it is similar to the American version of this proverb. Nobody wants you to actually break your leg, but instead it’s a backwards metaphor saying good luck to you. This was apart of Russian “paremiology” where essentially everyone knows this basic proverb. Similar to the United States, everyone knows the phrase “break a leg” and the real meaning behind it.

Minor Genre: Folk-Speech

Nationality: Puerto Rican/Dominican
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: USC
Performance Date: 2/20/23
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

“Culito de rana si no sana hoy sana mañana”

Translation: “Heal heal frogs butt, if it doesn’t heal today, it’ll heal tomorrow.”

Context: The context of this saying is typically used to provide comfort to someone who is feeling discouraged or disappointed about something that didn’t work out as planned. Additionally if a kid gets physically hurt, they would use the lullaby phrase to make them feel better. It suggests that sometimes things don’t work out right away, but with patience and time, they will eventually improve or heal. It’s important to note that this saying is often used in a light-hearted or playful way, especially when it’s being said to children. However, it can also be used in more serious situations to encourage perseverance and hope. The informant first heard this saying when they were four years old and fell on the playground. After coming home from school that day, their mother recited the lullaby to them and gave them comfort.

Analysis: As a child, this sounds as though it would be very nice to hear when you get a scratch on the playground. Although the phrase is most commonly used for children, I interpreted it having a playful and lighthearted tone, which may help to alleviate stress or anxiety in difficult situations or setbacks. It’s a reminder that sometimes it’s okay to take a step back, relax, and trust that things will eventually work out in their own time.

Minor Genre: Folk-Gesture

Nationality: Puerto Rican/Dominican
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: USC
Performance Date: 2/20/23
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

*Cheek to cheek gesture*

Younger person to elder – “¡Bendición!”

Elder response – “Dios te bien diga”

Translation: – “good blessing or good health”

Context: This is a saying used to greet family, typically when you are greeting an elder in your family such as your grandparents. While saying these phrases you do a cheek to cheek greeting almost as if you are kissing each other on the cheek. The informant learned this growing up around their family and used it out of respect for their elders when greeting them. It has a connection to Christianity in the sense that you are giving them a blessing and it used very commonly in Latin households. The informant said this is a more formal way of greeting family however when you greet your friends, you just do the cheek to cheek gesture.

Analysis: Interestingly, this folk-gesture is similar to many European gestures for greeting but is different because you kiss both cheeks in Europe but only one cheek in this gesture displaying the difference in meaning/significance in the different cultures and groups of people. It is not a very common thing in American culture because there is not much of a cheek to cheek gesture, however, my grandparents tend to say things such as, “God bless you,” when saying goodbye, connecting back to Christianity shaping these gestures and greetings.