| Overview As we learned in class,
proverbs are oral-literary forms with distinctive
features. These features are nearly universal, and
most proverbs exist in some form or another in all
the major European languages.
All
over the world, Proverbs frequently consist of two
parts, a TOPIC (which introduces the theme) followed
by a COMMENTARY (which gives the advice or rule of
action). In writing, the two parts are frequently set
off by a comma. Since proverbs are originally oral,
however, there are elements of sound which also help
the listener distinguish the two parts, and memorize
them.
Among
these devices is SYMMETRY, which in this case means
that each half of the proverb contains the same
number of syllables (or the same number of stressed
syllables), the same grammatical structure, or both.
The fact that many proverbs rhyme is a special case
of symmetry.
The following exercise will
help you recognize the formal features of proverbs.
Note: this and other web
exercises are intended to work on laboratory PCs
(i.e., non-Macintosh machines). It may very well work
on other machines, but if you encounter difficulty,
this may be the issue.
The audio clips in the table
below require the RealAudio plug-in, which is
available on all laboratory PCs, but does not always
work. It is not
recommended that you download RealAudio onto your own
computer. The quiz can be completed successfully
without listening.
Read and listen to the
following proverb in five languages. Then press the QUIZ
button.
| Language |
English |
French |
German |
Italian |
Spanish |
| Proverb |
Easy come, easy go. |
Ce qui vient de la
flûte, s'én retourne au tambour. |
Wie gewonnen, so
zeronnen. |
Quel che vien di ruffa
raffa, se ne va di buffa in baffa. |
Los dineros del
sacristán, cantando se vienen, cantando se
van. |
| Listen |
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|
|
|
|
| Translation |
----
|
What comes from the
flute, returns to the drum. |
As won, so dissipated. |
That which comes from
grasping, departs with gluttony. |
The sacristan's money
comes with a song, and leaves with a song. |
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