Postproverbial | Twisted and hybrid speech acts

SOME RANDOM PROVERBS & THEIR POSTPROVERBIALS

Proverb: Gàǹbàrí pa Fúlàní, kò lẹ́jọ́ nínú.
Translation: If the Hausaman kills the Fulani, it is not actionable.

Postproverbial: Gàǹbàrí pa Fúlàní, kí Ibadan ṣá mà ti bàjẹ́.
Translation: Let the Hausaman kill the Fulani, as long as Ibadan is not in turmoil.

Postproverbial: Gàǹbàrí pa Fúlàní, á sun àtìmọ́lé.
Translation: If the Hausaman kills the Fulani, he will be imprisoned.

Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb: Mtoto akililia wembe mpe.
Translation: If a child cries for a razor give it to him.

Postproverbial: Mtoto akililia wembe, keshaota nywele za ukubwani.
Translation: If a child cries for a razor he must have pubic hair.

Postproverbial: Mtoto akililia wembe usimpe atajikata.
Translation: If a child cries for a razor don’t give it to him he will cut himself.

East Africa (Kiswahili) Read more

Proverb: À kúkú ù joyè, ó sàn ju “enu mi ò ká ìlú”.
Translation: Better not to be made a chief, than to say “I am incapable of controlling my people”.

Postproverbial: À kúkú ù joyè, kò sówó lọ́wọ́ baba ni.
Translation: If one is not made a chief, it is out of lack of money and wealth.

Postproverbial: À kúkú ù joyè, a ó ṣá à j’ẹ̀bà.
Translation: If one is not made a chief, at least you will eat and survive.

Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb: Ọmọ tó ní ìyá òun kò ní sùn, òun náà kò ní fi ojú kan oorun.
Translation: A child who will not allow his mother to rest will himself stay awake.

Postproverbial: Ọmọ tó ní ìyá òun kò ní sùn, orun ni kò kùn ún.
Translation: A child who will not allow his mother to rest must be insomniac.

Postproverbial: Ọmọ tó ní ìyá òun kò ní sùn, à á fún un ní “Valium”.
Translation: A child who will not allow his mother to rest should be administered with valium.

Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb: Ẹni tó jìn sí kòtò, ó kọ́ ará ìyókù lọ́gbọ́n.
Translation: He who falls into the pit serves as a scapegoat to others.

Postproverbial: Ẹni tó jìn sí kòtò, kò wo ibi tó ń lọ ni.
Translation: He who falls into the pit is probably unconscious of where he’s going.

Postproverbial: Ẹni tó jìn sí kòtò, ó fẹ́ dí kòtò ni.
Translation: He who falls into the pit is eager to fill the pit.

Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb: Ẹni tí a bá torí ẹ̀ pa adìyẹ, iwe ni ó ń’jẹ.
Translation: The person on whose behalf the hen is sacrificed, eats the gizzard.

Postproverbial: Ẹni tí a bá torí ẹ̀ pa adìyẹ, gbogbo rẹ̀ ni ń’jẹ.
Translation: The person on whose behalf the hen is sacrificed, eats it all.

Postproverbial: Ẹni tí a bá torí ẹ̀ pa adìyẹ , orí ni ó ń’ jẹ.
Translation: The person on whose behalf the hen is sacrificed, eats the head.

Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

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SOME RANDOM PROVERBS & THEIR POSTPROVERBIALS