“Go big O”

Nationality: American
Age: 20
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Syracuse, NY
Language: English

Title:

“Go big O”

Context:

The informant is from Syracuse, NY which is known as Syracuse orange. Anytime the National Anthem is played they do an O with their arms over their head when the lyrics say “O”. This is because Syracuse’s color theme is orange and they have a saying “go big O” which is mainly done at sports games.

Analysis:

I see this gesture as symbolic because they have their own way of singing the song that is able to connect with the city. This is able to bring everyone together and create community. The gesture shares the idea of identity which connect to folklore, people in Syracuse share this same folklore.

“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you”

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Bay Area
Language: English

Title:

“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you”.

Context:

It’s to appreciate your family because family is the most important thing in your life. The phrase comes from disrespecting your parents or when the informant got in fights with his mom. But it makes you realize that she does so much for you and to be grateful.

Analysis:

I also interpret this in a similar way but in more of a broad perspective. I see this as being grateful for anyone that has helped you in life whether it may be during an obstacle you encounter or just everyday life. Don’t forget about those who have helped you along the way and not act unappreciative towards them. This quote is a proverb due to the fact that it is a metaphor.

“HAGS”

Nationality: American
Age: 20
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Long Island, NY
Language: English

Title:

“HAGS”

Context:

In yearbooks everyone writes “HAGS” which stands for “have a great summer”. This was a more popular thing to do in elementary school and that’s where the informant learned this. The phrase has been used for many years and at multiple schools, it is a well known thing. This was the informant’s go to phrase to write in yearbooks.

Analysis:

Along with this similarly to the informant I also wrote this in yearbooks which illustrates how this has made its way to many different places. This is mainly used by younger children, it became tradition for my classmates and I to use the saying “HAGS” in yearbooks. It’s also easy to remember as it is an abbreviation of something rather than a long saying. Since this has become tradition it demonstrates how it is folk speech and how our language is tradition.

School Sports Chant

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Claremont, CA
Language: English

Text: “Puck Fomona”

Context: A. told me about how people at Scripps College, Harvey Mudd College, and Claremont McKenna College say this at sports games. It’s to cheer against Pomona College. It switches the first letters of “Fuck Pomona” to “Puck Fomona.” They do this so they can express the rivalry without outright profanity. A. is a part of Scripps College.

Analysis: This phrase is a competitive sports chant that reinforces healthy rivalry between Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Pomona-Pitzer. It’s a unique phrase within the community as it is only used in games between the two teams, who are part of a larger school consortium of the five schools. Chanting this strengthens the CMS group identity and fosters school spirit. It lets students actively participate in traditions within the community.

Song for Sick Children

Nationality: American
Age: 58
Occupation: Retired
Residence: Seattle, WA
Language: German

German text: Armes häschen bist du krank, dass du nicht mehr huepfen kannst
English Translation: Poor bunny, you’re so sick that you can’t hop anymore

Context: This is a Swiss song that H.’s mother used to sing to her when she was sick. She still sings it today and it still comforts H. H. also sings it to her friends. She only sings one line of the song.

Analysis: This song holds personal significance for H., in that it serves as a comforting ritual. When she sings it to her friends, she continues this feeling of care and community. Hopping is a bunny’s fundamental movement, so the bunny’s loss of hopping in the song emphasizes that the bunny is sick. It suggests that this culture cares about their children and sees them as full of life. This song is a symbol of enduring love and connection.