Category Archives: Proverbs

Dark Bright: Proverb

Nationality: American
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: Garden Grove, CA
Performance Date: 4/21/18
Primary Language: English
Language: Vietnamese

If close to ink, dark. If close to light, bright.

The Informant provided this Vietnamese proverb to me at around 2:30am on 4/22 while she did homework. She is an Economics and Mathematics student at UCLA. The Informant, my girlfriend, said this proverb was burned into her brain by her Vietnamese parents while she was growing up in Garden Grove, a city in Orange County.

Her interpretation of the meaning is that if you surround yourself with bad influences, bad people, or a bad environment, you’ll turn out bad as well. And if you surround yourself with the opposite, successful people, you will be the same. Essentially, you are a product of your environment.

This is similar to a proverb from the Bible. In Proverbs 13:20, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Although this proverb does not have a poetic aspect like the Vietnamese oicotype, I would assume most cultures have a similar proverb. A main function of proverbs is to impart wisdom and parents generally want the best for their children. I would be surprised if a society that uses proverbs did not have one to warn children about the type of company they keep.

I love the linguistics of this proverb. It has clear poetic aspects even though the entire proverb doesn’t rhyme. The actual words used confuse me a bit, because I see ink as a problem in an analogy puzzle. If I were given this analogy puzzle, “ink” would not be one of my guesses:

____ : Dark :: Light : Bright

Ink sticks out like a sore thumb, but that aside I enjoy the poetry of the proverb and the underlying meaning.

Beware the Golden Handcuffs

Nationality: American
Age: 52
Occupation: n/a
Residence: California
Performance Date: 4-18-18
Primary Language: English
Language: French

Nationality: American
Primary Language: English
Other language(s): French
Age: 52
Occupation: n/a
Residence: California
Performance Date: 4-18-18

 

 

What it is: “Beware the Golden Handcuffs”

Why they know it:  This was a saying that was thrown around her law office

When is it said:. Reference when warning someone. The proverb is said when someone gets greedy, is asking for to much, or gets that ‘sparkle in their eye’ around things of high monetary value or spiritual/emotional value.

Where did it come from: She is unaware of where it comes from but has used and heard it for decades.

Why it’s said:. “Golden handcuffs refers to something that starts off super super great but slowly starts to control your movements because the great part is too financially or emotional hard to give up. For instances, Brianna joined an organization that really benefits her life style as a working mother giving her a ton of flexibility with her hours. Over the years she might have wanted to change jobs in order to be more intellectually challenged but she couldn’t give up the flexible hours. For me, the salary at White & Case [her law office] was so huge that even though I really thought about working for the courts or becoming a professor, I couldn’t give up the money.”

Thoughts: The proverb above has really impacted me but not only in the way its explained. I can also see this being applicable to the things that cause the “sparkle” in your eye. As warning against greed and that nothing comes for free or without consequences.

May you be in heaven

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: California
Performance Date: 4-5-18
Primary Language: English
Language: French, bit of Hebrew

Nationality: American

Primary Language: English

Other language(s): French, a bit of Hebrew

Age: 18

Occupation: Student

Residence: California

Performance Date: 4-5-18

What it is: May you be in Heaven a half an hour before the Devil knows you’re dead

Why they know it: “This is a proverb that is said fairly regularly in our family.”

When is it said: “We say this as a blessing, like at Thanksgiving Dinner or even our Friday night dinners. When you are wishing someone good luck, especially if they are trying to get away with something. For example, if my brother is trying to pull a risky prank on my father, I would say ‘May you be in Heaven a half an hour before the Devil knows you’re dead’.”

Where did it come from: It is part of a longer Irish blessing

Why its said: Issuing good luck, as a blessing, in passing, etc.

How they know it and what it means: This is something that has been said since Amanda can remember and has thus been absorbed into her vocabulary. The meaning comes from an experience of use as well as from her parents, sister, grandparents, etc.

Thoughts: This is something I say a lot. When I wish my friends luck, or if even I try to get away with something that is remotely risky. There are tons of meanings to this and they all come from the person saying it or receiving the proverb.

Because of us, them.

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: California
Performance Date: 4-6-18
Primary Language: English
Language: French, bit of Hebrew

Nationality: American

Primary Language: English

Other language(s):  French, a bit of Hebrew

Age: 18

Occupation: Student

Residence: California

Performance Date: 4-6-18

What it is: Because of us, them. Because of them, us.

Why they know it:  Amanda also attended Santa Barbara Middle School, and like ‘putting someone’s name into the fire’, this was a thing that was said on a daily occurrence. The meaning and saying became part of her vocabulary because of her experiences at SBMS.

When is it said: This is said in any situations, especially when someone has done something that was unfavorable. The teachers would go, Because of us, them. Because of them, us.

Where did it come from: SBMS

Why it’s said: This is a remembrance proverb. It’s meant to make people remember that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. The actions you put out there do not just affect you but it affects the people in the future as well. The actions of the past are what allow us to do the things we are doing now. And our actions will determine what the future people are able to do.

How they know it and what it means: The meaning is not hard to figure out and is thus not hard to communicate. It has been told so many times that is just something that you always remember that your actions have consequences, both good and bad. The best example is dress code. One year girls were wearing outfits that were not very appropriate for middle school. So, Whitney (one of the teachers) told them if they keep dressing like that we will have to issue uniforms, which would affect every student presently and for the future. If they didn’t want a uniform then they had to dress more appropriately.

Thoughts: This is one of my favorite proverbs. It makes me remember just how impactful my actions are, that I am not the only one being affected by things I do and visa versa. I believe that this message is super impactful and should be something that is taught because maybe, just maybe, situations (like the ones of current time) wouldn’t happen if we really taught people the impact of their actions.

The curse of the ring

Nationality: American, Indian
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: California
Performance Date: 4-20-18
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

Nationality: American, Indian

Primary Language: English

Other language(s): Spanish 

Age: 20

Occupation: Student

Residence: California

Performance Date: 4-20-18

 

What it is: “You cannot wear a ring on your wedding finger before you are engaged. If you do it will rain on your wedding day.”

Why they know it:  Her grandmother told her this one day and it has stuck with her ever since.

When is it said: Pretty much whenever someone has a ring on their ring finger, especially when it’s a friend or damily member.

Where did it come from: India

Why its said: This is used as a warning as no one wants rain on their wedding day.

Thoughts: This is something I have heard before; however, with a variation. I have been told that if you were a ring on your wedding finger you will have seven years of bad relationships. Either way, some type of bad luck will occur to those who wear rings on their wedding finger when not engaged or married.