Welcome to Postproverbial Community

What then is a postproverbial, or to address the form in the plural sense, what are postproverbials? Postproverbials are radicalized proverbial utterances which subvert the logic and the pattern of conventional proverbs...

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SOME RANDOM PROVERBS & THEIR POSTPROVERBIALS

Proverb:  Asiyesikia la mkuu huvunjika guu.
Translation: He who does not heed the elder’s/senior’s advice, breaks his leg.

Postproverbial: Asiyesikia la mkuu husikiliza la mdogo. He who does not heed the elder’s/senior’sadvice, listens to the junior.
Translation: Asiyesikia la mkuu husikiliza la mdogo. He who does not heed the elder’s/senior’sadvice, listens to the junior.
Postproverbial: Asiyesikia la mkuu tapeleka jela.
Translation: He who does not heed the elder’s/senior’s advice, will be sent to jail.
East Africa (Kiswahili) Read more

Proverb:  Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, ɔhunu deɛ yɛnhunu.
Translation: If a child does what is not done, then he sees what should not be seen.

Postproverbial: Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, yɛ de aba bɔ no.
Translation: If a child does what is not done, s/he is caned.
Postproverbial: Abofra yɛ deɛ yenyɛ a, yɛ tea no.
Translation: If a child does what is not done, s/he is disciplined.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Ba di ba vana mo, se ba ba tɛa ba vana.
Translation: We exclude others when we eat food, but we do not exclude them when we talk about issues.

Postproverbial: Ba di ba vana mo, a gyei a nia.
Translation: We exclude others when we eat food, I am sitting down and watching.
Postproverbial: Ba di ba vana mo, a gyei a nia.
Translation: We exclude others when we eat food, I am looking on.
Ghana (Kasem) Read more

Proverb:  Ẹni tó gbódó mì, ìdúró kò sí, ìbere kò sí.
Translation: [For] he who swallows a mortar or pestle, there is no rest, neither standing nor stooping.

Postproverbial: Ẹni tó gbódó mì, kò lè di ọjọ́ kejì.
Translation: He who swallows a mortar or pestle, will not survive the second day.
Postproverbial: Ẹni tó gbódó mì, kò ní jẹ́ ká r’íyán jẹ.
Translation: He who swallows a mortar or pestle, causes us to lose the chance of eating pounded yam.
Nigeria (Yoruba) Read more

Proverb:  Yɛde akyire gya wo a, ɛnka wo nko.
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker you are not regarded as being alone.

Postproverbial: Yɛde akyire gya wo a, hwɛ ne yie.
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker, be diligent.
Postproverbial: Yɛde akyire gya wo a, hwɛ so yie.
Translation: If we leave you as caretaker, it is a huge responsibility.
Ghana (Akan) Read more

Proverb:  Nayɔŋɔ bane na zaŋ, o wo di tio.
Translation: If a leper gets angry, s/he can climb a tree.

Postproverbial: Sana na gane nayɔŋɔ, ko we ko wo wane ko di tio.
Translation: When alcohol deceives a leper, s/he says s/he can climb a tree.
Postproverbial: Nayɔŋɔ bane na zaŋ, ko wo duli kandwa mo.
Translation: If a leper gets angry, s/he will throw stones.
Ghana (Kasem) Read more