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| Saturday, February 15, 2003 |
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HISTORICALLY speaking, the proverb has not had an easy coming of age. It was struggling for an established identity, a place in the linguistic and literary mainstream during the eighteenth century in England when it was used as a portmanteau word to refer to a range of constructions ranging from ‘metaphorical phrases’ to ‘descriptive epithets’. Established writers viewed it with disdain considering it as cliche wisdom. As far as classification goes, there is consensus among most proverb-watchers that proverbs can be categorised into three types according to their meaning. The first expresses general truths, while the second includes examples of inductive reasoning i.e. ‘using particular facts and examples to form general rules and principles’. Homilies, aphorisms and maxims belong to the third classification, illustrating traditional sayings containing a solid dose of sense in them. It is interesting to note that a large number and what are considered English proverbs were born on foreign linguistic shores. Now try matching the following subjects and predicates to make complete sentences. Subjects 1. A rolling stone... 2. Past cure... 3. A bird in the hand... 4. Great oaks... 5. Better never to begin... 6. Meum, tuum, suum... 7. You can’t put new... 8. When rogues go in procession... 9. Covetousness is... 10. A red sky at night, shepherd’s delight... 11. Wise men propose... 12. Prospect is often... 13. Opportunity... 14. You can’t make a silk purse... 15. The road to hell... 16. Gratitude is the least of virtues... 17. There’s no such thing... 18. Example is... 19.The noblest vengeance is... 20. In for a penny... 21. Why keep a dog... 22. You cannot have your cake... 23. He who rides a tiger... 24. Clothes... 25. Hope springs eternal... 26. Bacchus has drowned more men... 27. Possession is nine... 28. Faint heart... 29. Nothing is so bad... 30. Imitation... 31. Nothing is impossible |
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Predicates 1) out of a sow’s ear. 2) the root of all evil. 3) wine in old bottles. 4) from little acorns grow. 5) better then possession. 6) makes the thief. 7) than Neptune. 8) but ingratitude is the worst of vices. 9) as a free lunch. 10) better than precept. 11) gathers no moss. 12) to forgive. 13) and eat it. 14) make the man. 15) than never to make an end. 16) and bark yourself? 17) is the sincerest form of flattery. 18) in which there is not something good. 19) past care. 20) nine points of the law 21) red sky in the morning shepherd’s warning. 22) never won a fair lady. 23) is worth two in the bush. 24) to a willing heart. 25) is paved with good intentions. 26) and fools determine. 27) in the human breast. 28) set all the world together by the ears. 29) is afraid to dismount. 30) the devil holds the cross. 31) in for a pound. |
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