Category Archives: Folk speech

Scary Story

Age: 22

Text:
“I went to sleepaway camp in Maine for seven summers, and I started when I was nine in 2013, and I went until 2019 when I was fifteen. The first three or four summers, obviously, I was pretty young. We would tell these scary stories after our Friday night campfires. Basically the whole camp would go and we’d do camp songs and cheers or whatnot. Then after we’d go and make s’mores by the bunk and sit outside by the lake and tell scary stories. One of the stories that stuck with me literally to this day was ‘Click, Click, Drag.’ It was one of the first horror stories that I was told by one of my counselors, who was an ex-camper. Basically, theres a girl and a guy walking outside, maybe it’s two girls or two campers, and they start hearing this sound: click, click, drag, click, click, drag. It follows them all the way home and picks up the longer they walk, eventually grabbing the girl by the foot and dragging her away. The boy sprints home, and shortly after, he hears knocking on the door. The voice of the monster talks as if it’s the girl, screaming, ‘Help! Help! Open the door! Open the door!’ The boy opens the door and is dragged out. He was never seen again.”

Context:
A girl from Palm Beach, FL who went to sleep-away summer camp in Maine every summer while growing up. She recalls a scary story that she learned from her counselor, who also went to the same camp when she was a kid.

Analysis:
This is a demonstration of folklore being passed through generations through storytelling. She learned this story from a former camper, suggesting that her counselor also learned the story in a similar setting. She also noted that she doesn’t remember the story completely and that some details were likely lost in her memory, which is what often leads to multiplicity and variation between the same stories. It is also interesting that scary stories are quintessential parts of summer camp and sitting around bondfires.

A Georgian Beginning to a Fairy Tale

Interviewer: How did you start the fairy tales you used to tell me as a kid? 

TK: I’m disappointed that you can’t remember. The same as everyone, I heard it as a kid from my mom, and the way she heard it from hers. Every story i remember my mom or my grandma telling me started exactly like this.

Translation:

“A tale of things that were and things that were not.” 

Original:

“იყო და არა იყო რა”

Context:

The informant is my mother, who grew up in Georgia. She recites a common Georgian introduction to a fairytale.

Analysis:

Every language has its own version of this opening formula. This is the Georgian variation of the common “once upon a time” trope. It creates an environment where the story is told. Once the phrase is said, the story is about to begin. Additionally, it creates a sense of liminality to communicate that the story lies somewhere between reality and make-believe. We see characteristic attributes of oral folklore such as intergenerational transmission of vernacular tradition.

JJ DID TIE BUCKLE

Interviewer: What phrases are a part of your life that most people would find interesting or strange? 

S: Yes, I’d do it. It’s from my time as a marine. Have you heard the acronym JJ DID TIE BUCKLE?

Interviewer: What does it stand for? 

S: It’s a mnemonic to remember the 14 essential leadership traits. 

Interviewer: Would you be willing to name them?

S: Oh yeah, here we go: Justice, judgment, dependability, initiative, decisiveness. Tact, integrity, enthusiasm, bearing, unselfishness, courage Knowledge Loyalty Endurance

Interviewer: Wow, do you use this a lot in your life?

S: Whenever I need to remind myself of these values. The mnemonic really helps, and it’s a great thing current and past Marines can bond over. God knows we’ve all had to repeat this thing countless times. 

Context: 

The informant is a student at the University of Southern California. Before starting his undergraduate education, he served in the United States Marine Corps. 

Analysis:

This acronym is a marker of group identity. It teaches the members of the group where it is practiced about what values they are expected to internalize. In this form, folklore can communicate moral instructions. The phrase has both formal and informal qualities, which heightens its ability to act as a bonding object. The informant continues to use this acronym during times of need even in his civilian life. Although “JJ DID TIE BUCKLE” comes from a formal institution, it becomes folklore through repeated performance and insider recognition.

A Georgian Animal Proverb

Interviewer: Can you think of a proverb you’ve heard a lot in your childhood:

MK: Sure, one of the more common ones I heard from my parents was this:

original: 

თაგვმა თხარა, თხარა, კატა გამოთხარაო. 

translation: 

The mouse dug and dug, only to dig out a cat. 

Context: This phrase was recorded from an older relative of mine, but I myself have heard it many times. It is a fairly common proverb in Georgia. 

Analysis: 

This proverb teaches a lesson through a short, memorable animal image. The proverb warns about the possible unintended consequences of ill-motivated curiosity. Animal imagery is used to better communicate with the intended audience of children. Proverbs work as vernacular pedagogy and teach about cause and consequence. Self-restraint is a common issue children struggle with, and this proverb is designed to function as a teaching tool. 

FPS Doug (“Boom Headshot!”)

Main text:
FPS Doug (“Boom Headshot!”)
Background on Informant:
My informant is a friend of mine who I regularly play video games with. He is in his thirties and has been playing video games since he could remember. I asked him about internet videos from back in the day that had a strong following or that is still relevant today. He brought up the FPS Doug video and explained that it was something he and other gamers have seen and quoted over the years. He said it is especially common among people who have played FPS games like Counter-Strike.

Text:
Interviewer: so tell me about the video

Informant: Yeah, FPS DOUG the “boom headshot” guy, just funny and over the top. The way he reacts is crazy, throughout the video it shows him as a little eccentric, but when he plays counterstrike everyt ime he gets a kill he yells BOOM HEADSHOT! The video ends with him freaking out like way too much over him dying in the game, it was pretty funny.

Interviewer: What group would you say this internet folklore originated from?

Informant: Gamers for sure but more specifically Counter-strike gamers, you know CS has a cult like following.

Interviewer: Yes I am aware, do people still say it?

Informant: Yeah, *laughs* and you are one of those people.

Interviewer: Do you know the time frame it may have originated?

Informant: Uhh like the 2000 to 2010 I think?

Interviewer: thank you I appreciate your time.

Analysis:
This is digital folklore, the FPS Doug video became widely shared online and turned into a meme through repetition and quoting. In class, we learned that folklore spreads informally, and this example reflects that because it was not formally taught but shared within the gaming community online. The phrase became popular specifically within the Counter-Strike community before eventually spreading to the first person shooter community. It now functions like verbal folklore within gaming culture, reinforcing group identity and shared humor. This example also demonstrates multiplicity and variation, since people continue to reuse and adapt the phrase in different contexts not just to counterstrike or gaming but it has been used in the same way “knocked it out of the park” is used. Overall, it shows how modern folklore spreads through digital platforms while still serving similar functions as traditional folklore.