Methali 1500 za Kiswahili na Maana zake

METHALI 1

Bonyeza Hapa kusoma vizuri kitabu kinachoonekana hapo chini

IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING PROVERBS

What is a Proverb?

A
proverb is a short saying that is widely used to express an obvious truth. Or, Proverbs are
wise sayings that give advice about life. 

They are the gems of wisdom. Proverbs are
culturally specific, yet their meaning has the universality; everyone can
relate to them in some way and on some level. There is a proverb for almost any
situation. We may sometimes not understand a big lecture but we understand a
small proverb very easily because the truth they speak can span the globe. They
can also give a greater potency to what is being conveyed. For example, in
trying to explain the consequences of evil deeds, the proverb “ As you
sow, so shall you reap.” teaches the lesson- “You can’t escape the
consequences of your actions.”

If you really
want to take your English to a higher level, or you want to speak English like
a native speaker, it is important to learn as many proverbs as
possible.

There is a widespread opinion that the proverb
plays an important role in language teaching as a part of gaining cultural
knowledge, metaphorical understanding and communicative competence.

Proverbs are a part of every language as well as
every culture. Proverbs have been used to spread knowledge, wisdom and truths
about life from ancient times up until now. They have been considered an
important part of the fostering of children, as they signal moral values and
exhort common behaviour. Proverbs belong to the traditional verbal folklore
genres and the wisdom of proverbs has been guidance for people worldwide in
their social interaction throughout the ages. Proverbs are concise, easy to remember
and useful in every situation in life due to their content of everyday
experiences.

Here there is the general description of the
proverb: “A proverb is a short, generally known sentence of the folk which
contains wisdom, truth, morals, and traditional views in a metaphorical, fixed
and memorizable form and which is handed down from generation to generation.”

According to the paroemiologist  Wolfgang
Mieder (2004), proverbs have been used and should be used in teaching as
didactic tools because of their content of educational wisdom. When it comes to
foreign language learning, proverbs play a role in the teaching as a part of
cultural and metaphorical learning. Linguists also claim that the use of
proverbs in the teaching of English as a second or foreign language is
important for the learners’ ability to communicate effectively.

The use of proverbs and its declining in the
teaching of modern languages has long been discussed.

Durbin Rowland (1926) points at some arguments pro
the use of proverbs in language teaching. Rowland says that proverbs “stick in
the mind”, “build up vocabulary”, “illustrate admirably the phraseology and
idiomatic expressions of the foreign tongue”, “contribute gradually to a surer
feeling for the foreign tongue” and proverbs “consume very little time”.

Significance
of Proverbs in Africa and Beyond

The sayings of
Africa are some of the most profound words you’ll ever hear. My mother never fails
to throw in a handful of Ibo proverbs to keep in mind and keep me grounded
whenever we’re deep in conversations. Take the famous Tanzanian proverb “many
hands make light work”. This is a saying that’s been adopted all over the world
and encourages people to work together. Another famous example is the Nigerian
proverb “It takes a village to raise a child”. These words of wisdom span the
globe even appearing in American movies and books. Proverbs have
had a great influence on the lifestyles of many people, mainly through means of
religion and culture. The word “proverb” from the Latin “pro-verbium” (“pro”
meaning “in front of” and “verbium” meaning “word”), suggests that a proverb
takes the place of ordinary words. The ways in which proverbs vary from people
to people demonstrates the differences between cultures; however it’s common
for proverbs to show how very similar people really are. A proverb from
Southeast Asia demonstrates this factor. The Malay proverb “Give him your foot
and he will demand your thigh” is very similar to the British proverb “Give him
an inch and he will take a mile.” The value of African and non African idioms
and proverbs is far reaching and there are numerous examples of their benefits.

“…it’s common for proverbs to show how very similar people really are…”

They share with
the world the practical wisdom the people have learned in their way of life.
The Zulu proverb “You cannot chase two antelope at once” developed when African
people found they could only capture one animal at a time because if they tried
to focus on more than one, the animals they hunt would all get away. This
practical wisdom of tackling one thing at a time applies to people all over the
world not just those chasing after wildlife. Proverbs also provide an
understanding of the way of life in Africa. The view on gender roles in Africa
is summed up by the proverb from Ghana that says “A woman is a flower in a
garden; her husband is the fence around it”. Proverbs help to dispel the belief
that a people are barbaric and uneducated for there’s often a stigma
surrounding people who can’t speak English and aren’t educated in a typical western
manner. When these proverbs are translated it’s easy to see the intelligence
and life experience the people possess. It also shows that a society and its
way of life aren’t superior to that of another society.

It’s often said
that a picture can tell a thousand words and proverbs have the ability to
explain a thousand words in one simple sentence or statement. There are many
long winded essays, articles and papers on how thinking positively is
beneficial. The Tanzanian proverb “One who bathes willingly with cold water
doesn’t feel the cold” sums this up in one line. In addition to positive
thinking, proverbs tend to be uplifting and inspiring. One such example is the
Zulu proverb “You should face your responsibilities squarely; no elephant ever
found its trunk too heavy”.

The sayings of
Africa are some of the most profound words you’ll ever hear. My mother never
fails to throw in a handful of Ibo proverbs to keep in mind and keep me
grounded whenever we’re deep in conversations. Take the famous Tanzanian proverb
“many hands make light work”. This is a saying that’s been adopted all over the
world and encourages people to work together. Another famous example is the
Nigerian proverb “It takes a village to raise a child”. These words of wisdom
span the globe even appearing in American movies and books. Proverbs have had a
great influence on the lifestyles of many people, mainly through means of
religion and culture. The word “proverb” from the Latin “pro-verbium” (“pro”
meaning “in front of” and “verbium” meaning “word”), suggests that a proverb
takes the place of ordinary words. The ways in which proverbs vary from people
to people demonstrates the differences between cultures; however it’s common
for proverbs to show how very similar people really are. A proverb from
Southeast Asia demonstrates this factor. The Malay proverb “Give him your foot
and he will demand your thigh” is very similar to the British proverb “Give him
an inch and he will take a mile.” The value of African and non African idioms
and proverbs is far reaching and there are numerous examples of their benefits.

“…it’s common for
proverbs to show how very similar people really are…”

They share with
the world the practical wisdom the people have learned in their way of life.
The Zulu proverb “You cannot chase two antelope at once” developed when African
people found they could only capture one animal at a time because if they tried
to focus on more than one, the animals they hunt would all get away. This
practical wisdom of tackling one thing at a time applies to people all over the
world not just those chasing after wildlife. Proverbs also provide an
understanding of the way of life in Africa. The view on gender roles in Africa
is summed up by the proverb from Ghana that says “A woman is a flower in a
garden; her husband is the fence around it”. Proverbs help to dispel the belief
that a people are barbaric and uneducated for there’s often a stigma
surrounding people who can’t speak English and aren’t educated in a typical
western manner. When these proverbs are translated it’s easy to see the
intelligence and life experience the people possess. It also shows that a
society and its way of life aren’t superior to that of another society.

It’s often said
that a picture can tell a thousand words and proverbs have the ability to
explain a thousand words in one simple sentence or statement. There are many
long winded essays, articles and papers on how thinking positively is
beneficial. The Tanzanian proverb “One who bathes willingly with cold water
doesn’t feel the cold” sums this up in one line. In addition to positive
thinking, proverbs tend to be uplifting and inspiring. One such example is the
Zulu proverb “You should face your responsibilities squarely; no elephant ever
found its trunk too heavy”.

OTHER ISSUES ON LEARNING PROVERBS

Proverbs change with time and culture. Some old
proverbs are not in use any longer because they reflect a culture that no
longer exists, e.g. Let the cobbler stick to his last, which has
vanished more or less, because the profession of the cobbler nowadays is rare.
However, new proverbs that reflect the contemporary society are created
instead, e.g. Garbage in, garbage out, a proverb
created due to our computerised time. Old proverbs are also used as so called
anti-proverbs today, i.e. “parodied, twisted, or fractured proverbs that reveal
humorous or satirical speech play with traditional proverbial wisdom”. One
example is Nobody is perfect, which as an anti-proverb is changed to No
body is perfect.

Work with proverbs and sayings at the lessons not
only helps to diversify educational process and to make its brighter and
interesting. Moreover it helps to solve a number of very important educational
problems: proverbs in the classroom can improve students’ learning experiences,
their language skills, and their understanding of themselves and the
world. This happens because:

• Proverbs provide an
  opportunity for students to be knowledgeable experts as well as learners.
• Proverbs provide an
  opportunity for students to learn about each other and their shared
  values.
• Proverbs provide an
  opportunity for students to gain insight as they discuss their experiences
  and work out their understanding of proverb meanings.
• Proverbs provide an
  opportunity for students to use their home culture as a stepping stone
  into school culture.
• Proverbs provide an
  opportunity to improve thinking and writing as students both provide and
  receive information.