|
|
|
|
|
|
Resources |
|
|
|
The Mouth Is the Home of Words: And Other Abaluhya Proverbs
| Article
# : |
15817 |
|
|
Section : |
CULTURE
|
| Issue
Date : |
1 / 1989 |
3,299 Words |
| Author
: |
Ward A. Sample
Ward A. Sample teaches linguistics and English as a second
language at Central Missouri State University. A Fulbright-
Hays Fellow, Sample has also taught at Indiana University and
the University of Nairobi. |
Centrally located on the African continent are the Abaluhya, a people living in western Kenya near Lake Victoria. In contrast to the popular image of Africans in colorful beads and jewelry, this largely agricultural people, encompassing twelve linguistic dialects, has a culture that discourages ostentatious personal adornment and public displays. Yet, beneath this seeming austerity lies an elaborate, rich tradition of oral literature that binds the dialect areas together into a single culture. In addition to the many myths, tales, and stories, proverbs comprise a concise, yet essential, component of the Abaluhya oral tradition.
As a part of every person's life from birth, proverbs incorporate familiar images to instill a knowledge of the cultural patterns into which an individual is born. For adults, proverbs serve as a store of wisdom with which they can not only educate their children but also validate themselves as active members of the culture. During a four-year stay in Kenya teaching and researching the Luhya language, I encountered many proverbs that, upon later examination, clearly characterized Abaluhya culture. Since the meaning of a proverb is usually dependent upon the situation that prompts its use, I will recount several incidents in which proverbs were used to illustrate Abaluhya attitudes toward the correct use of language, the importance of patience and persistence in dealing with life, and the value of the home and travel.
The Mouth Is The Home Of Words
One morning, feeling quite concerned because her six-year-old daughter had been silently sulking around the house, the mother tried to encourage her to talk about
... (1997 of 19162 Characters)
Read Full Article
|
|
