Tag Archives: spanish

Ningún mono se ve el rabo.

Nationality: Cuban-American
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: California
Performance Date: April 2007
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

Ningún mono se ve el rabo.

No monkey sees his own tail.

 

(Similar Proverbs: Pigs don’t know pigs stink, Before you criticize the splinter in someone else’s eye, remove the log from your own.)

My informant, who is bilingual, remembers hearing this proverb from her grandmother, born in 1915, and who moved to the United States from Cuba in 1976. (My informant’s mother came to the United States at the same time in 1976).

This was one of her favorite proverbs growing up. Notice the objects used in each version of the proverb. In Cuba it was a monkey, a more western version uses a pig. It appears that this proverb is localized to each region in that they use native animals for the proverb.

My informant did note that, although some versions of this proverb do come from the Bible, she felt that “No monkey sees his own tail” is more a reflection of her grandmother’s origins, not the similarity between her grandmother’s version and the version found in the bible involving removing the log from ones eye.

My informant explained the proverb to me as a proverb advocating self-examination. When you want to criticize someone for a small fault, look at yourself and any faults that you might have first.

La ambición rompe el saco.

Nationality: Cuban-American
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: California
Performance Date: April 2007
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

La ambición rompe el saco.

If you do more than you can handle, you will bust.

 

(Similar Proverb: Don’t spread yourself too thin.)

My informant, who is bilingual, remembers hearing this proverb from her grandmother, who moved to the United States from Cuba in 1976. (My informant’s mother came to the United States at the same time in 1976).

Her grandmother would always say this to her when she was stressed out. Her grandmother meant to remind her of her limitations with her workload, particularly in high school.

My informant noted that these proverbs are said more by her grandmother than her mother, and hardly ever by her own generation.

My informant also has discussed the effect that speaking English has had on her repeating proverbs in Spanish. She remembers them in Spanish, but does not say them in Spanish. She says the English variants more often than not. I asked about the structure of the proverb, the if/then statement, and if it is popular among Spanish proverbs, but my informant did not have an answer for me.

Proverb

Nationality: Latina
Age: 23
Occupation: High School Tutor
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: April 29, 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

El burro hablando de oreja.

The donkey talking of ear.

He speaks of others without recognizing the traits and flaws he speaks of within himself.

Silvia told me this was a common proverb that her close and extended family often said to one another or as a comment in regards to someone else. She took it as meaning that you must learn from your mistakes, although she admitted to having difficulty remembering the wording at first and struggling even more to recall its meaning. However, after thinking about it a little bit more, she added that it may have also referred to talking about others when you had a lot to answer for yourself. It seems to be a reminder to check yourself first before commenting or gossiping about other people. She also said that even though her family constantly reminded her to do this with this saying, she did not think they were the best examples of the proverb.

Admittedly, this was a completely new proverb for me that was especially difficult to decipher because it can be quite confusing and bizarre if translated and understood literally.  However, after asking a few of my family members and other Spanish speaking adults I know, they all seemed to agree that this challenging proverb was not only meant to challenge you intellectually as you struggle to understand its meaning, but also challenge you to be aware of your own behavior before you criticize others or speak critically of them. It also seems to challenge you not to judge others, gossip about them, or be critical of others more generally because you need to focus on yourself instead. This proverb makes a pointed observation that applies generally to so many; we are only too happy to focus on or emphasize others’ shortcomings or character flaws as we neglect our own and fail to see those very faults within ourselves. The proverb uses the image of a donkey, a traditionally dumb animal, speaking of or to an ear to highlight the folly of speaking about others and perhaps even listening to others blindly when the smartest thing to do is to turn towards you. This proverb prompts self examination.

Proverb

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 17
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: April 28, 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

El que se junta con lobos a aullar se ensena.

He that he comes together with wolves howl he shows himself.

He that joins wolves ends up learning to howl.

Sergio said that your friends basically influence you a lot. He said with a smile and just the slightest annoyance that his mom constantly tells him this proverb as a reminder to never be influenced by his friends, something that he says he never is. However, he added that his mother who is Mexican (but whose girl friends are Salvadorian) recently picked up a slang Salvadorian saying from her friends. Apparently, she now says “pasmado” frequently without even noticing- something that Sergio can hardly believe and joked about in light of her favorite proverb. He said that he was unsure about the word’s meaning, but he thought it might mean clumsy. Mostly though, he said it was funny how the proverb he had just shared with me and this brief anecdote about his mom was connected because of her constant reminders not to let him be influenced by others.

This proverb is comparable to another Spanish proverb that similarly seems to warn you to be careful and smart about choosing the company that you keep. Like the proverb says, if you choose to become close to “wolves” or similarly unsavory characters, you will also eventually learn to howl, or pick up their habits both good and bad. This is a very telling proverb that warns you against losing yourself and becoming like your friends and those you associate with most closely. However, this proverb emphasizes the consequences of hanging around with the wrong crowd, especially one that can negatively influence you as you become increasingly like them and begin acting differently. It also seems to underscore an emphasis on retaining your individuality and also morally sound character. There is definitely a subtle underlying message that “wolves” and “howling” are negative; or know morally questionable people and their equally questionable behavior should be avoided and guarded against for your own well being as the consequences of their influence could only be negative.

Song – El Salvador

Nationality: Latin-American
Age: 40
Occupation: Program Coordinator
Residence: Covina, CA
Performance Date: April 28, 2008
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

“El Carbonero”

Soy carbonero que vengo de las cumbres del volcán

Con mi carboncito negro

Si mi señor, es buen carbón

Compre usted de Nacazcol y de Chaperno y de Copinol

Compre usted, es buen carbón

“The Coal Man”

I am coal man that comes from the ashes of the volcano

With my little coal black

Yes my man, it is good coal

Buy you of Nacazcol and of Chaperno and of Copinol

Buy you, it is good coal

“The Coal Seller”

I sell coal, and I come from the ashes of the volcano

With my black coal

Yes sir, it is good coal

Please by sir, buy coal from Nacazcol and Cahaperno and Copinol

Buy sir, it is good coal

Boris told me that “El Carbonero” is a folk song from El Salvador that he used to sing at school when he was younger. It was always sung during Independence Days or El Día de la Raza when it would be sung and danced to. Girls would wear their traditional dresses and men would wear their traditional peasant costume with a white hat and white shirt and pants made of manta. He first learned it in kindergarten with the rest of his peers. He was unsure whether or not it was printed in their books, but it may or may not have been. Either way, this song was considered by most Salvadorians to be the Second National Anthem of El Salvador. He also added that it might have been originally written by a Mexican writer, but he was also unsure whether or not that was true.

This unique song is tellingly considered by Salvadorians as their second national anthem. As their adopted second national anthem, the song most likely had a special relevance to the people, their loves, and their sense of being Salvadorian. It is interesting to note that El Carbonero is not a typically patriotic song that glorifies the country, the government, or anything else that you might usually associate with the theme of a national anthem. On the contrary, it is a very simple song about a man who sells coal from different regions of El Salvador. He is a working man trying to earn a living. The original language of the song is also significant. Told by the man himself, he addresses prospective buyers with the formal term of respect “usted”.  This choice of language further emphasizes his humble position within society and also reveals important information regarding the social customs of the culture. In this choice of a second national anthem, the “common people” and majority of the population must have also been asserting their presence and value within Salvadorian society. Perhaps the original national anthem was not inclusive enough or this part of the population needed to feel empowered. And what better way to achieve these ends and newly establish themselves as a very real presence within the country’s culture than by adopting a song that reflected the life of a hardworking man simply trying to live? It was obviously well received because as Boris said, it was a song that was taught very early on and proudly sung during important feast days and celebrations. This may also reflect the pride of the people who identified with the song and to whom it felt relevant as it increasingly became a part of their cultural identity and consciousness.

Interestingly enough, Pancho Lora a Salvadorian credited with being one of the most influential and enduring folk singers of El Salvador is credited with writing “El Carbonero”, however the lyrics of the song that he publishes are different from the ones Boris performed for me. Broaden the search a bit and you will soon see diverse renditions of this song with variations in lyrics that nevertheless maintain the essence of the song Boris sang.

Annotation: Pancho Lara CD titled “The Pipil Indians of El Salvador” on which the song “El Carbonero” appears. This CD was released by Folkways Records in 1983.