Category Archives: Folk speech

“HAGS”

Nationality: American
Age: 20
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Long Island, NY
Language: English

Title:

“HAGS”

Context:

In yearbooks everyone writes “HAGS” which stands for “have a great summer”. This was a more popular thing to do in elementary school and that’s where the informant learned this. The phrase has been used for many years and at multiple schools, it is a well known thing. This was the informant’s go to phrase to write in yearbooks.

Analysis:

Along with this similarly to the informant I also wrote this in yearbooks which illustrates how this has made its way to many different places. This is mainly used by younger children, it became tradition for my classmates and I to use the saying “HAGS” in yearbooks. It’s also easy to remember as it is an abbreviation of something rather than a long saying. Since this has become tradition it demonstrates how it is folk speech and how our language is tradition.

School Sports Chant

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Claremont, CA
Language: English

Text: “Puck Fomona”

Context: A. told me about how people at Scripps College, Harvey Mudd College, and Claremont McKenna College say this at sports games. It’s to cheer against Pomona College. It switches the first letters of “Fuck Pomona” to “Puck Fomona.” They do this so they can express the rivalry without outright profanity. A. is a part of Scripps College.

Analysis: This phrase is a competitive sports chant that reinforces healthy rivalry between Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Pomona-Pitzer. It’s a unique phrase within the community as it is only used in games between the two teams, who are part of a larger school consortium of the five schools. Chanting this strengthens the CMS group identity and fosters school spirit. It lets students actively participate in traditions within the community.

Song for Sick Children

Nationality: American
Age: 58
Occupation: Retired
Residence: Seattle, WA
Language: German

German text: Armes häschen bist du krank, dass du nicht mehr huepfen kannst
English Translation: Poor bunny, you’re so sick that you can’t hop anymore

Context: This is a Swiss song that H.’s mother used to sing to her when she was sick. She still sings it today and it still comforts H. H. also sings it to her friends. She only sings one line of the song.

Analysis: This song holds personal significance for H., in that it serves as a comforting ritual. When she sings it to her friends, she continues this feeling of care and community. Hopping is a bunny’s fundamental movement, so the bunny’s loss of hopping in the song emphasizes that the bunny is sick. It suggests that this culture cares about their children and sees them as full of life. This song is a symbol of enduring love and connection.

Family Proverb

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: New York City, NY
Language: English

Text: “Finish the job”

Context: C.’s mom would often say this to her when she was growing up to encourage her and her sisters to complete what they started as it made life and other tasks easier. Her mom would also say it at work. For example, her mom would say to finish the job when putting away laundry so that you aren’t left with it and it makes it better later. C. uses this mindset in her life now and says it to herself.

Analysis: This phrase is a family proverb that has now been passed down through the generations. It reflects the family’s strong work ethic and the belief that following through on things leads to longer term ease and success. It has been adapted to various situations (work and home) while still carrying its original meaning.

Family Proverb for Stressful Situations

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: New York City, NY
Language: English

Text: “Sit down and think”

Context: C. shares how her mom often said this to guide her in stressful situations. Her mom learned it from her own father, who told her during a snowstorm when they were stuck in a car. C.’s mom also recalled it when she missed her stop on the German subway, getting separated from her friends and lost in a foreign country. Now, C. repeats it to herself in times when panic isn’t helpful, reminding her to pause and think instead.

Analysis: This is a family proverb and folk speech passed down through multiple generations now as a way to navigate stressful situations. The wisdom evolves through each lived experience, like survival knowledge. The knowledge has been helpful in many different situations.