An Analysis of Wolayta Proverbs: Function in Focus
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Date
2012-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The major goal of this study is to analyze the functions of Wolayta proverbs and their sociocultural
use. To achieve this goal, an attempt has been made to collect proverbs from different
villages of Wolayta zone. Four hundred proverbs were collected through tape recording,
interviews and observation with native speakers of Wolayta Language. The data were subjected
to analysis to determine their major functions. Descriptive technique of qualitative research
methodology was used to explain the functions of the proverbs in the daily life of the Wolayta
people. From the four hundred proverbs fifty five proverbs were selected for analysis and the rest
three hundred forty proverbs were translated and categorized according to their functions and
appended to the paper.
The findings indicated that Wolayta proverbs have four major functions these are aesthetic,
didactic, normative and reflective. Reflective functions of proverbs do have in this study implies
that they are used to persuade one's communication, attract listener, get the attention of
addressee, contend human cognitive economy refresh human thought, give a clue to one's speech
and bring about a common understanding among the people who take a certain social event,
particularly arbitration. The didactic function of the proverbs that the researcher identified in this
study is that proverbs teach morals, diligence and purity, and critics' immoralities such as
ridicules, snobbislmess, laziness and other forms of wicked human behavior. Normative
function of proverbs entai ls the use of proverbs to regulating established norms of the society by
punishing deviant behaviors so as to bring individuals dilemma to conform to the dominant
cultural values. Reflective proverbs reflect the customary practices, the values of morality and
the strictness of Wolayta social laws. Thus, the Wolayta proverbs play great roles in
strengthening social conformity and creating public responses to social, cultural and economic
obstacles. Furthermore, the study has attempted to show that proverbs can be used for building
up a community, maintaining culture and producing responsible people.
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An Analysis of Wolayta Proverbs: Function in Focus