As They Say In Zanzibar

David Crystal

• Publisher: Collins
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9780007212026
• eBook ISBN: 9780007588275

David Crystal, one of the world's leading commentators on language, tackles the proverbs of the world. In this anthology of global proverbs Crystal brings his customary keen eye and linguistic expertise to this wonderfully rich topic. David Crystal, one of the world' s leading commentators on language, tackles the proverbs of the world. In this anthology of global proverbs Crystal brings his customary keen eye and linguistic expertise to this wonderfully rich topic. Proverbs are fascinating in what they tell us about a culture's view of everyday life: whether it be the importance of animals or the significance of the weather, proverbial wisdom is a key factor in understanding different peoples and cultures. Here David Crystal, the world's leading commentator on language, takes us on a global tour of the world's proverbs. Whether you are in Andorra, China or Tierra del Fuego, there is a nugget of local wisdom to inform and entertain. Proverbs are fascinating in what they tell us about a culture's view of everyday life: whether it be the importance of animals or the significance of the weather, proverbial wisdom is a key factor in understanding different peoples and cultures. Here David Crystal, the world's leading commentator on language, takes us on a global tour of the world's proverbs. Whether you are in Andorra, China or Tierra del Fuego, there is a nugget of local wisdom to inform and entertain. Some proverbs to entertain: Some proverbs to entertain: • When two elephants struggle, it is the grass which suffers. (Zanzibar)• When two elephants struggle, it is the grass which suffers. (Zanzibar) • One must chew according to one's teeth (Norway) • Admiration is the daughter of ignorance (Spain) • A blind man needs no looking glass (Scotland) • Never bolt your door with a boiled carrot (Ireland) • Don't call the alligator a big-mouth till you have crossed the river (Belize) • An untouched drum does not speak. (Liberia) • Do not try to borrow combs from shaven monks. (China)

1 EXISTENCE

1. God did not create hurry FINLAND
2. Do not blame God for having created the tiger, but thank Him for not having given it wings ETHIOPIA
3. The face came before the photograph USA
4. Heroism consists in hanging on one minute longer NORWAY
5. Everything comes to those who wait ENGLAND
6. There’s a time and a place for everything ENGLAND
7. The existence of the sea means the existence of pirates MALAYSIA
8. Handsome is as handsome does ENGLAND
9. Friendly is as friendly does USA
10. Everything is possible, except to bite your own nose NETHERLANDS
11. Fingers were made before forks ENGLAND
12. The bigger they come, the harder they fall USA
13. When God made the rabbit He made bushes too HUNGARY
14. Let the church stand in the churchyard ENGLAND
15. Everything will perish save love and music SCOTLAND
16. Rules are made to be broken ENGLAND
17. If you aren’t what you ain’t, then you ain’t what you are USA

2 FAMILY

1. If you have no relatives, get married EGYPT
2. Vultures eat with their blood relations SOUTH AFRICA
3. One family builds the wall; two families enjoy it CHINA
4. In every family’s cooking-pot is one black spot CHINA
5. The bazaar knows neither father nor mother TURKEY
6. A hundred aunts is not the same as one mother SIERRA LEONE
7. If my aunt had wheels, she might be an omnibus NETHERLANDS
8. Bed is your brother ZANZIBAR
9. Better a neighbour over the wall than a brother over the sea ALBANIA
10. Two happy days are seldom brothers BULGARIA
11. Three brothers, three fortresses PORTUGAL
12. Brotherly love for brotherly love, but cheese for money ALBANIA
13. Children regard their father’s guest as a slave REPUBLIC OF CONGO
14. A father is a banker provided by nature FRANCE
15. It’s a wise child that knows its own father ENGLAND
16. The house with an old grandparent harbours a jewel CHINA
17. Those whose mother is naked are not likely to clothe their aunt SUDAN
18. Love and blindness are twin sisters UKRAINE
19. When you are chased by a wolf you call the boar your uncle SLOVENIA
20. The spear of kinship soon pierces the eye CAMEROON
21. Many kiss the child for the nurse’s sake ENGLAND
22. Those who gossip about their relatives have no luck and no blessing NETHERLANDS

3 SAMENESS

1. It is not the one way everyone goes mad IRELAND
2. The cry of the hyena and the loss of the goat are one NIGERIA
3. Both legs in the stocks or only one is all the same GERMANY
4. Luck and bad luck are driving in the same sledge RUSSIA
   
   1 FAMILY MOTTOES
   Many Latin family mottoes are no more than single words or phrases, such as Labora (‘Endeavour’). But a number are sentences with a proverbial character. Some families have even adopted a proverb as their motto. In these examples, an illustrative family surname is given in parentheses.
   Vivis sperandum While there is life there is hope (NIVEN)
   Non est sine pulvere palma The prize is not won without dust (YARBURGH)
   Ex vulnere sallus Health comes from a wound (BORTHWICK)
   Ales volat propriis The bird flies to its own (TUFTON)
   Praemonitas praemunitus Forewarned, forearmed (RICKART)
   Virtus omnia vincit Virtue conquers all (WHITE)
   Labor omnia vincit Labour conquers all (BROWN)
   Spes anchora tuta Hope is a safe anchor (DUNMURE)
   Audaces fortuna juvat Fortune favours the brave (CARPENTER)
   Other languages than Latin can be a source. Here are two from French (or Old French):
   Qui sera sera What will be will be (BETENSON)
   Qui s’estime petyt deviendra grand Who esteems himself little will become great (PETYT)
   
5. Ability and necessity dwell in the same cabin NETHERLANDS
6. Lovers have much to relate – but it is always the same thing GERMANY
7. Tho...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Thematic Classification
• List of Panels
• As they Say in Zanzibar
• Keep Reading
• Further Reading
• Indexes:
• Copyright
• About the Publisher