Category Archives: Folk speech

Fishing Proverb

Nationality: USA
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: LA
Performance Date: 02/17/2019
Primary Language: English

Main Piece:

The informant told me of a proverb that he was told while fly-fishing. The proverb goes “The fish don’t bite until the first light.”

 

Background:

A fishing proverb told to the informant by a fisherman from Maine while the informant was trying to fly-fish in a river right before dawn. The informant is a 21-year-old USC student from Maine who enjoys fishing on his time off.

 

Analysis:

The proverb does not exactly state the truth as fisherman are likely to begin fishing before dawn in many places throughout the world. The proverb does make more sense when considering fly-fishing and what that entails. While fly-fishing, one wades into the water wearing waterproof boots and waders. If one slips while deep in the water, the waders will fill up with water and it will be difficult not to drown without assistance. By waiting until dawn, there is more light which will make it easier to walk without slipping and if you do need help, there is a better chance someone will be around to help out.

Hindu Proverb

Nationality: Indian
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: LA
Performance Date: 04/19/2019
Primary Language: Hindi (urdu)
Language: English

Main Piece:

Original Text (Hindi):

“पेड़ किसी को अपनी छाया से मना नहीं करते, लकड़हारे को भी नहीं।”

(ped kisee ko apanee chhaaya se mana nahin karate, lakadahaare ko bhee nahin।)

Literal Translation (English):

“Trees refuse no one their shade, not even the woodcutter.”

 

Background:

Informant is a 22-year-old USC student from India. His parents raised him as a Hindu, but he does not practice the religion while at school. The proverb was told to the informant by his parents when he was a young child and they have the proverb hung up in their home in India.

 

Analysis:

The translation of the proverb to English is mostly literal. The idea that trees do not refuse their shade seems like a given as trees do not have feelings and cannot move themselves. However, if one considers themselves the tree, the proverb is profound in that it states that one should treat all other people well, even if they mean to do you harm.

Hindu Proverb

Nationality: Indian
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: LA
Performance Date: 04/19/2019
Primary Language: Hindi (urdu)
Language: English

Main Piece:

Original Text (Hindi):

बुराई उसे उखाड़ फेंकेगी जो एक परोपकारी मित्र की सलाह नहीं मानता।

(buraee use ukhaad phenkegee jo ek paropakaaree mitr kee salaah nahin maanata)

 

Literal Translation (English):

Evil will befall him who regards not the advice of a benevolent friend.

 

Background:

Informant is a 22-year-old USC student from India. His parents raised him as a Hindu, but he does not practice the religion while at school. The proverb was told to the informant by his parents when he was a young child

 

Analysis:

The idea that bad things happen to those that do not listen to their friends is a powerful message for the Hindu religion. The religion is very peaceful, yet they believe that one is basically cursed if they do not heed the advice of their friends. This demonstrates how much wisdom Hinduism believes one can learn from their friends. This proverb provides the reasoning for which all Hindu’s should respect each other and learn from one another.

Hindu Proverb

Nationality: Indian
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: LA
Performance Date: 04/19/2019
Primary Language: Hindi (urdu)
Language: English

Main Piece:

Original text (Hindi):

“एक् और एक् ग्यारह् हॊते है”

(ek aur ek gyarah hote hei)

 

Literal Translation (English):

“One and one makes eleven”

 

Translation:

There is strength in unity.

 

Background:

Informant is a 22-year-old USC student from India. His parents raised him as a Hindu, but he does not practice the religion while at school. The proverb was told to the informant by his parents when he was a young child

 

Analysis:

The idea that one and one makes eleven is an interesting way of viewing the strength that comes from numbers. In a way, this proverb claims that the strength of two people working together is more than five times more powerful than having two work separately. This speaks volumes to the emphasis that Hinduism places on harmony and sharing the work between all people.

Leaves of 3, Good TP

Nationality: half Chinese, half German and various European countries
Age: 20
Occupation: USC Undergrad
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: 4/21/19
Primary Language: English

Context

My 2 friends and I got together to exchange funny stories with each other. L is the storyteller in this, C is the second friend, and I am ‘Me.” My friend heard this modified version of a proverb from her dad, who read it in a newspaper article.

 

Main Piece

 

L: So you know how there’s like, “Leaves of 3, let it be”?

 

Me: Yeah

 

L: Umm, I think my dad heard it in a newspaper or something. He told me and I can’t stop thinking about it. Where it’s like – it was a newspaper competition to purposely give bad advice, and one of the winners was Leaves of 3, good TP. And so now every time I think of poison ivy, I think of leaves of 3, I don’t finish it with the normal proverb ending, I think, “Leaves of 3, good TP!” and then it’s all messed up in my head.

 

C: Is that because you have to like, itch your…?

 

L: Yeah, like good toilet paper and it’s bad advice. And another one was strangers have the best candy.

 

Notes

Original proverb: “Leaves of 3, let it be; berries white, take flight.”

The original proverb is a rhythm to teach people how to identify poison ivy and stay away from it, as contact with the plant causes severe itching and rashes. The play on words of this proverb in the text above is joking that leaves of three (poison ivy) makes good toilet paper! Well, the point of the newspaper article was to give bad advice. So you would not want to use poison ivy as toilet paper or you’ll have a serious rash in an uncomfortable location…

 

I thought this was a clever play on this proverb. I’ve heard of the original 3 leaves proverb and keep it in mind when I go hiking. Here is a link to another version of this proverb: http://www.stillmannc.org/Poison%20Ivy.pdf