Category Archives: general

Ukranian Blessing

Nationality: Ukrainian
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Language: Ukrainian

Text (Ukrainian): “Дай тобі Боже здоровʼя і доброго чоловіка”

Text (Romanized): Day tobi Bozhe zdorovʼya i dobroho cholovika

Translation: “May God give you good health and a good husband”

Context: The informant said that it’s when she does something good or something for her, instead of ‘thank you’ she says this proverb. The informant says, “So it’s like a little blessing. Her grandmother used to say it to her and now she says it to me”. 

Analysis: In traditional Ukrainian culture, there is a strong emphasis on the paternal line, particularly in regards to marriage. For instance, Ukrainian patronymic middle names combine the father’s first name with a gendered suffix (-vitch/-yvitch for men; -yvna/-ivna for women). Their culture values parental permission for marriage, so the informant’s mom wishing for a good husband reinforces cultural notions of traditional marriage and blesses whoever she does choose. In regards to religion, most Ukrainian families are Eastern Orthodox, so Godly blessings are valued and common. With this blessing combining good health and husbandry, it encourages the importance of finding marriage and a husband that works well with the family. 

“Many will fall at your side but you will not be touched”

Nationality: American
Age: 47
Residence: Glendale, Arizona
Language: English

Text: “Many will fall at your side but you will not be touched”

Context: “When talking to someone, it is an encouragement. It is a protection, like enemies will fall but you will not be struck down. They will say negative things about you but you will be protected. Like people who pretend to be your friends but will want negative things to happen to you.” 

Analysis: This proverb is a blessing and a reference to angels in order to wish protection on someone who is struggling with personal relationships. It is also a show of support for a person’s journey and wishes them luck, that no harm will come their way. A possible interpretation of this could be in reference to fallen angels, as other people will reap their own consequences and the individual does not have a responsibility to fall down with them. This double meaning strengthens the intended protection and transforms the saying into prayer.

“Play Stupid Games Win Stupid Prizes”

Nationality: American
Age: 23
Occupation: US Marine
Residence: Fort Mead, Maryland
Language: English

Text: “Play stupid games win stupid prizes”

Context: This folk speech is commonly used in the military as a warning to others not to make “stupid” decisions because they will result in “stupid” consequences. Quoted are examples provided by the informant for using this saying:

“If you do dumb things, that’s what you will get as a result. Like not taking out your trash or making your bed (stupid game) and they check it and they flip your mattress or throw the trash on the floor (stupid result).” Another example given was “you fall asleep with your rifle, you play stupid games.” 

Interpretation: With the high expectations that come with being military personnel, this folk saying essentially encourages each other to perform the duties that they are expected to perform by authority figures. Often in the military, when one person makes a mistake, everyone gets in trouble, or the consequence is ridiculous as shown in the informants’ examples. By warning each other of the consequences to unnecessary mistakes, they are looking out for their team by potentially saving themselves from over-the-top consequences that come with the smaller mistakes.

Uun yi agbalagba ri n’oiho joko, omoiton le ri un n’oiho uduo – Proverb

Nationality: Nigerian
Age: 20
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: Yoruba

Text:

Uun yi agbalagba ri n’oiho joko, omoiton le ri un n’oiho uduo

Translation:

“What an elder can see when sitting down, a child cannot see when standing up”

Context:

My informant told me that this proverb is “usually invoked when a child is trying to get smart with an adult or an older person” (his words). He said this proverb can also be used as a warning even when there is no act of disobedience. He told me that there are different versions of this proverb, one ending with “a child cannot see when climbing the tallest tree,” but the one above, in Yoruba, was the version he was told growing up.

Analysis:

When my informant shared this proverb with me, I realized that the idea of “respect your elders” is a somewhat universal idea. I interpreted that the elder seeing more while sitting down is because they have literally seen/experienced more in their life than the child. The child, while standing, cannot see/experience everything the elder sees due to their lack of life experience. Growing up, and even still to this day, I received a similar sentiment from the older people around me. It is interesting how Western cultures, similarly to African cultures, deem elders as “wiser” than children because they have lived longer, and therefore, there is an expectation placed that children need to respect and listen to their elders.

Actions speak louder than words – Proverb

Nationality: American
Age: 57
Occupation: Dance Studio Owner
Residence: Downers Grove, IL
Language: English

Text:

Actions speak louder than words

Context:

My informant told me she used to say this a lot when she worked in management. She would tell other employees this proverb so they would have agency with their work and towards their careers. In those instances, she wanted her employees to understand that them saying they will get a task done is not the same as them actually getting the task done. She nows says this proverb to her children as a way to inspire them to take action in their lives.

Analysis:

The metaphor within this proverb is really powerful. Someone can say they are going to do something, but until their actions align with their words, their words hold no power. This is especially true when someone’s actions directly oppose what they’re saying. Although actions do not speak, they signal the person’s intention to others. Many people say things they do not mean or make promises they never follow through. People’s actions and decisions give meaning to the words they say.