Category Archives: Proverbs

“Well, then it must have been a lie.”

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Nationality: American
Age: 76
Residence: FL
Performance Date: April 10
Primary Language: English
Language: Yiddish

Informant is grandmother, currently living in Florida having lived most of her life in New Jersey. I have never heard this saying before nor has anybody I’ve asked.

This saying always comes after somebody has just forgotten what they were going to say— lost train of thought. Reenacted by her and her granddaughter, this is how it goes:

 

Granddaughter: “Hey Bubbe, guess what?”

Bubbe: “What?”

Granddaughter: “Actually, I forget.”

Bubbe: “Well then it must have been a lie!”

 

You’re supposed to say that anytime somebody forgets their train of thought. It’s a pretty cute thought and people in the room laughed when they heard it. I think it also highlights one of my grandmother’s core values which is honesty. The joke is funny because it discounts whatever one was trying to say, but forgot.

“Doesn’t matter, it must have been a lie! You’d remember it if it were true” Bubbe tells me.

Prophet Proverb

Nationality: Canadian
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: 3/20/17

Subject: Proverb

Informant: Phillipe was born in Quebec, Canada and has two sisters and a brother. His family is originally from Quebec, therefore he grew up with french as his native tongue.  He currently studies Finance in California.

Original Script: Nul n’est prophète dans son pays / No one is a prophet in his own country

Background information by informant: Essentially, the proverb means that when you are around people that know you, any lies you tell will be easily noticed. In contrast, it also implies that it is much easier to lie around those who do not know you.

Context of performance: Usually it is said around friends when one of the individuals is caught in a lie.

Thoughts: Ultimately, the proverbs essential theme is to propagate honesty. Although simple, this idea can positively influence the members of a country and culture, creating honest citizens that have greater sympathy and empathy for their fellow citizens.

Unity in Numbers

Nationality: American
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 04/26/17
Primary Language: English

Subject: Proverb

Informant: Nnamdi was born in San Francisco. His parents are originally from Nigeria and came to the United states after getting married. Although living abroad, his parents maintain their customs and traditions prevalent within the family. Nnamdi currently studies Business in Los Angeles.

Original Script: Igwe bu ike / There’s unity in numbers

Background information by informant: The proverb is one of many from the lgbo tribe in Nigeria. In Nigerian culture, teamwork is very important. Family is pretty much the biggest value besides religion.

Thoughts: Interestingly, the theme of strength and unity when in numbers is a very prevalent one within the folklore of many different cultures.

Colombian Folklore: Phrase

Nationality: Colombian
Age: 22
Residence: Los Angeles, Mexico, Colombia
Primary Language: Spanish

Type: Fixed Phrase

  1. “A buen entendedor pocas palabras bastan” Translation from Spanish to English: “A word to the wise is sufficient.”
  2. I obtained this piece of folklore from my friend Daniela. Daniela was born and partially raised (only for a couple years) in the country of Columbia, in the city of Bogota. After a couple years she left and moved to another country, but in her adulthood, she has gone back and visited. Both of her parents are Columbian as well. So, according to Daniela, this fixed phrase/saying is incredibly common in Columbia, about “everyone says it.” As a child, she did not know about the saying, but as an adult when her parents and older individuals in Columbia started saying it to her, she knew that is was not just a saying but apart of the Columbian identity. The translation was provided by Daniela as well, who is multilingual.
  3. The saying is something that you wouldn’t say to a friend or peer, but parents or elders say to younger generations. Ultimately, the saying means that, for those who are wise, simplicity in language is enough to communicate a desired message. For the wise, “one word” is good enough. Not literally “one word” but the idea of simplicity being the better answer for those who can understand. That is the key to the saying, “the wise.” If you are not wise, then you will need a longer and more complex explanation, according to this saying and Columbian culture.
  4. I really enjoy this saying, insofar that I believe it is true, and accurate. Especially in American culture, we tend to avoid simplicity in our language and in our ways of communication, but most of the time the simple answer is the right answer…for those who are capable of understanding it.

Colombian Nursery Rhyme

Nationality: Colombian
Age: 22
Residence: Los Angeles, Mexico, Colombia
Primary Language: Spanish

Type: Folk Nursery Rhyme

  1. “Sana que sana, colita de rana si no sanas hoy sanarás mañana.” Translation from Spanish to English: “Heal, heal, little frog’s bottom, if you don’t heal today, you’ll heal tomorrow.”
  2. I obtained this piece of folklore from my friend Daniela. Daniela was born and partially raised (only for a couple years) in the country of Columbia, in the city of Bogota. Since she spent a significant part of her childhood in Columbia, she remembers fondly this nursey rhyme. She was told this by her parents, friends of her parents, teachers, and other adults in her life. When appropriate and applicable, Daniela still sings the rhyme in her head, even if the listener is not Columbian or speaks Spanish. The translation from Spanish to English was provided by Daniela, who is multilingual.
  3. This rhyme has a specific role in Columbian life and culture. It is said whenever a child or young falls down and/or hurt themselves in the process. According to Daniela, this rhyme is one of the first thing you learn as a child. It is normal for adults to say this to children anywhere and jokingly to teens or adults under the age of 50. This is not just something said on the playground or at school, it is said anywhere, but only when children fall to the ground. It would also be rude to say this when older people (over the age of 50) fall.
  4. I really enjoy this short little rhyme. In American society we have similar sayings, such as “kaboom!” Clearly the Columbian version is longer, but what is interesting about this is that, according to Daniela, the saying is widely known by Columbians, especially since it is something learned during childhood. The rhyme is apart of the Columbian identity which is very special.