Category Archives: Folk speech

Very Good Rice Takes Time, Will

Nationality: American
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Houston, Texas
Performance Date: 3/24/16
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

To help pay the bills, the informant recently started working towards a bartending certification again. It was a relaxed, informal environment— people were waiting for a meeting to start— and they were sharing this exact piece of folklore with a friend

 

When you start to learn how to bartend, what do they tell you to help remember the mixes in the well?

 

“Um, so when you’re bartending, um… When you’re at the bar, there’s a well which is like the common liquors that you use in; it’s- to remember the kind of order and which liquors they are when you’re first learning you can learn the phrase “very good rice takes time, Paul- Will,” sorry. Some, some wells have different liquors but in California, it’s whiskey.

 

So “very” is vodka, “good” is gin, “rice” is rum, t or ta- “takes” is tequila, “time” is triple sec, and “Will” is whiskey. And so it’s just like an easy way to start getting used to using the well, um in a like timely… manner.”

 

Since mnemonics are there to fill a specific purpose and recall a specific set of information, I had not realized that they could also have multiplicity and variation. It seems that variations would be in response to a change in environment, as in this case, or a change in both time and landscapes, such as how the mnemonic to remember the planets of the solar system changed to reflect Pluto’s reclassification.

 

Also, it is possible that those who use mnemonics are largely beginners of the related topic. Using this mnemonic as an example, one might assume that its use might fall with a bartender as they become familiar with the well through greater bartending experience. Alternatively, the mnemonic could simply speed up a bartender’s familiarity with the well, with the bartender continually referring back to it.


Being a mnemonic unique to bartending, this is also a fun example of occupational folklore.

 

No Bitches, Damn Proud

Nationality: American (Oregon)
Age: 21
Occupation: Student, Social Chair of fraternity
Residence: LA
Performance Date: 3/12/16
Primary Language: English

“No Bitches, Damn Proud”

“No Bitches, Damn Proud” is a proverb in my fraternity. It can be said in many occasions and has many meanings. I specifically talked to AK about his interpretation of this important piece of Phi Sigma Kappa folklore. A is prominent brother who has been strongly involved in the house. In his words,

“NBDP [No Bitches, Damn Proud] is a thing we say at the end of every meeting. It signifies goodwill and good luck. It’s sort of like a cheers. I guess it can be used in pretty much any occasion. It can be a greeting or a farewell. Or just a cry of pride.”

NBDP is an interesting little piece of folk speak. I’ve been in the fraternity for less time than A has, and yet I use the phrase often, as every brother does. It reminds me of those simple phrases that a lot of cultures and languages have that can be used in many situations. For example, Italians have the word prego, which can mean “thank you” or “please” or simply “ok.” Prego does not really have a literal translation because the word has many meanings. Similarly, NBDP is a phrase that can be used whenever to mean whatever the speak wants. It doesn’t need to be taken literally. Still, I asked A about his interpretation of NBDP. His response:

“Well ‘No Bitches,’ that means we don’t want anyone who’s a bitch. Phi Sigs are tough, mentally and physically. And ‘Damn Proud’ means you’re Damn Proud to be a Phi Sig. And to not be a bitch.”

A’s translation gives insight into the popularity of the phrase at the fraternity. It makes guys feel strong and proud when they say it. It is kind of like Phi Sigma Kappa’s battle cry. Furthermore, I believe the phrase promotes camaraderie and brotherhood. It is a phrase that only brothers really know, so saying it proves that you are a brother. This shows the importance of folk speech. It is usually only known by members of whichever group says the word or phrase. So saying these words reaffirm individuals membership in the group they are a part of.

Thai Animals

Nationality: Thai
Age: 21
Occupation: student
Residence: LA
Performance Date: 4/25/16
Primary Language: English
Language: Thai

LS is from Thailand. She says the worst thing someone can be compared to is an animal. A lot of Thai insults and swear words are animals. For example, ควาย (kwaai), which means “buffalo.” According to L, this is one of the worst things you can call someone. She says, “It is degrading to be called an animal.” Another insult is sàt, which simply means “animal.”

I can see where the insults come from. To be an animal is to be less than human. Being called an “animal” is worse than being called a “stupid person” or a “mean person.” By likening someone to an animal you are saying they do not even belong in human society. It is certainly a harsh thing to insinuate, which is the entire point of insults and swear words.

Parents will also use the bad connotations of being an animal to teach their children manners. L explained, “Parents tell their kids that if they eat while laying down they will turn into a snake.” And also, “If you don’t close the door behind you, you’re considered to have a really long tail because your tail is still coming through the door.” L told me her parents would always tell her these things, and that most Thai parents would tell their kids this; therefore, these phrases are commonly know. L told me that she would also use the familiar phrases with her friends to mock each other for fun.

I think this an interesting way to teach children. Children have such active imaginations that they probably believe they’ll really turn into animals. I believe that in most cultures parents teach their children through fantastical consequences. Using fun, imaginative punishments is sometimes easier than explaining to a child the real reason why it is inappropriate to leave the door open or something similar. A lot of folklore that is directed towards children is meant to teach simple lessons such as this.

It is clear why parents teach lessons through folklore. Children are more likely to remember to, say, close the door behind them if they associate it with something crazy like having a tail. This form of teaching clearly works, my friend L remembers the lessons more than ten years later. Folklore has this power to stick in our minds because it is performed for us in such casual, quotidian ways. It is easier to remember folklore than traditional rules or literature because it is so informal that it can be repeated and reheard daily.

Una Adivinaza de Aguacate

Nationality: Costa Rican
Age: 20
Occupation: student
Residence: LA
Performance Date: 4/24/16
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

SB is from Costa Rica. We have been friends for some time, and whenever she cuts avocado I notice she says a little limerick to herself. I asked her what she was saying. She told me: “Agua pasa por mi casa, cate de mi corazón.”

It’s a riddle (adivinaza), and the answer is aguacate, which means “avocado” in Spanish. The phrase literally translates to ” Water runs down my house, it is a punch to my heart.” It is not really apparent what this has to do with avocados, but the solution to the riddle is found in the wordplay. Agua + cate each have meaning on their own in Spanish, but also form the word aguacate.

S explains, “Riddles like these are used to teach kids various fruits in Spanish.” It clearly works, because S remembers this riddle all these years later and still associates it with avocados whenever she has one. I asked her why she thinks there are riddles to learn simple things like fruit, and she explained that aguacate is actually a pretty difficult word for kids to say. This little rhyme, which breaks down the word, helps teach how to say it.

S told me another one of her favorites:

Tiene ojos y no ve,

posee corona y no es rey,

tiene escamas sin ser pez,

¿qué rara cosa ha de ser?

Which means:

It has eyes and doesn’t see,

It has a crown and isn’t a king,

It has scales but is not a fish,

What rare thing could it be?

The answer is piña, a pineapple.

Throughout my time collecting folklore, I’ve noticed there are a lot of rhymes and riddles in various cultures that are meant to teach kids simple things like manners or words. These riddles stimulate creative thinking at a young age. Riddles are not always obvious and you have to connect the puns or wordplay to come up with the right answer. Folklore is a prominent part of children’s development. I believe a majority of what children learn in their early ages is through folklore; before they can read, kids pick up what people are talking about around them. Learning culture is just as important as learning to read and write, and folklore teaches this.

酒发心腹之言

Nationality: Taiwanese
Age: 20
Occupation: actor
Residence: LA
Performance Date: 4/4/16
Primary Language: Chinese
Language: English

酒发心腹之言

Jiŭ fā xīn fù zhī yán (Chinese)

literal translation: Wine sends feeling to the belly of words

 

My roommate, JC, told me this Chinese proverb. He is from Taiwan, a country heavily influenced by Chinese culture (the island was a part of China until 1945, China still considers it a territory). Taiwanese enjoy drinking and having a good time. This proverb talks about the possible dangers of drinking alcohol. J explains, “It means that wine makes people say stuff.” He elaborates, “It is used as a warning. Because when people get drunk they often run their mouths and say things they probably shouldn’t.” Alcohol warms the belly, but this proverb is saying that alcohol also warms the mouth (“belly of words”) and makes it more willing to move.

Taiwanese culture emphasizes politeness. It is considered rude to talk about intimate personal matters in public. When people drink, however, they are inclined to over-share, which can be humorous or disastrous. J explains how he and his friends would use this jokingly when things got a little out of hand with alcohol. He explains how adults use the phrase to warn about the consequences of alcohol. J and his friends, on the other hand, use it to encourage drunken friends to spill secrets.

It is amusing how the younger generation has taken a traditional proverb and changed its purpose. This is a perfect example of the fluidity of folklore. The proverb has its original intended meaning, but it continues to exist in new forms as new generations redefine the meaning. Folklore isn’t static. It changes to suit the modern culture, growing and expanding.