CLASSIFICATION OF PROVERBS AND WISE SAYINGS.
Proverbs and wise sayings may have no rigid classification but scholars try to organize the corpus based on the following criteria:-
- Alphabetical classification.
The corpus is arranged using the first letter of the first word in the proverb and the subsequent letters in their alphabetical order.
Example (proverbs beginning with m)
- Mari mbere matirutaga nyota (kikuyu)
Run-by water does not quench thirst.
- Monguchige kimagei somisyo (kalenjin)
A hyena cannot smell its own stench.
- Moni tsia mweya tsilangula nitsilutsi (luhyia)
A bride’s eye pretends not to have seen
This system is used by G. Barra in 1000 Kikuyu proverbs and S.S Farasi in Swahili sayings.
- Content or thematic classification.
Proverbs and wise sayings are grouped according to subject matter. The themes can include politics, religion, kinship relations, love and friendship e.t.c.
Examples.
Politics
Jatelo ema otenga gwaro (luo)
The kite just scratches the leader.
Religion
Kilemba cheupe si kumcha mungu (Swahili)
A white hairdress is not fear of God
Kinship
Wat en wat(luo)
Kinship is kinship
- Functional classification.
Proverbs and wise sayings can also be classified according to their functions which include.
- Warning.
Jatelo ogongo gwaro (luo)
The leader is scratched by the vulture.
Misifukaji imirat emtim (Maasai)
Do not follow the vanquished into the bush.
- Summative
Kanyama gake gakora bokima kee (ekegusii)
a small piece of meat finishes a plateful of ugali
Mutenge rania na mutengerio gutiri utanogaga (kikuyu)
Both that chases and the chased become tired
- Normative.
Okwa esilubi olakwa esikaye (luhyia)
Better fall like a basket than like an earthen plate.
- Aesthetic.
Opek (luo wise saying)
She is heavy for she is pregnant.
- Stylistic/structural classification.
This is based on the form of expression and stylistic features. under this category we have:-
- Directives
These comment on situations, describe, sum up or are intended to convey some idea to targeted people. They point out the nature of events and hence express the perception of the speaker about the events e.g.
Huni nene igiraga huhita (kikuyu)
Eating too much leaves you with a swollen belly.
Emut oljurtuenkup (Maasai)
The worm can destroy a whole plant.
Bul pek ji duogo (luo)
The drum is heaviest on the return journey
- Epigrams
These are longer usually amusing proverbs and wise sayings which express some clever thought.Characteristically, epigrams draw analogies between phenomena. These exist in at least two parts.
Example.
Ero ti ileny mitki chieng itwo (luo)
Now you are oily-shine may you one day be dry.
- Allusions.
These refer to an event that took place in the society for inference.
Example.
Igeno lep kanyakeno (luo).
You are hoping for the tongue at nyakeno’s place.
This is based on an occurrence where an elder refused to eat at his place and going for a party at Nyakeno’s place as he expected to eat the tongue of the cow(a favourite meal of the elders in the luo parties) only to come back having eaten nothing.
