DEFINITION OF PROVERBS
A proverb is a short statement of wisdom accepted by a community as an expression of truth and wisdom.
Over time a community develops a short statement that reflects its experience, belief, philosophy of life, world view and tested opinion.
This statement is passed down the generations in form of wise sayings or proverbs.
CLASSIFICATION OF PROVERBS
There are several ways of classifying proverbs. Some of these include: -
1. Alphabetic classification of proverbs
In quite a several books where proverbs are recorded in alphabetical order. This is done in the realization that the classification of proverbs is not as easy as obvious as that of songs and narratives.
2. Classification of proverbs according to the subject, matter, contents or themes
While classifying proverbs this way, themes are grouped on what they are talking about. We, therefore, have proverbs on poverty, family, patriotism, unity, religion, wisdom, readership, handwork, honesty, greed friendship, obedience, death, wealth and poverty etc.
3. Classification of proverbs according to style
This method of classifying proverbs is a more complex academic exercise where proverbs are classified according to the style they employ. For example, a certain experience event or story can be summarized to form a single statement that becomes a proverb. Such is an anecdote proverb.
According to the style method of classifying proverbs, we can have proverbs like aphorisms, allusions, satirical, epigrams etc.
4. Classification of proverbs according to functions
For secondary school students, classifying proverbs according to their functions appears to be the most appropriate since it is simple. We note that a single proverb can serve several functions.
Functions of proverbs and their Classification
The following are some of the functions of the proverbs and their classifications
i) Advisory and advising proverbs
E.g. Mtaka cha mvunguni sharti ainame
(If you want something, you must work hard)
ii) Cautionary or cautioning or warning proverb
E.g. Bad Company ruins morals
iii) Educative e.g. Mtoto umleavyo ndivyo akuavyo
(The child grows up the way you bring him up)
iv) Satirical proverbs e.g. Nyani haoni kundule
(The monkey does not see its ugly buttocks)
v) Encouraging proverbs e.g. Success does not come on a silver plate.
vi) They are incorporated into an ordinary conversation as a sign of eloquence
vii) They are used in deciding a case e.g. among the Luos there is a proverb that says “blame both the world cat and the chicken” while the Kikuyu says “both the thief and the witness are equally guilty”.
viii) They express a worldview of a given people of issues of life like sickness, poverty, wisdom etc.
ix) Summarizing a situation e.g. Charity begins at home.
x) Proverbs also express or capture the contradictions of life e.g. if you want peace prepare for war.
It is important to note that classification according to function is not rigid since one proverb can be used for various functions.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PROVERBS (STYLES)
1. Proverbs are usually short in form. In company with other genres like songs and narrative proverbs are short.
2. They are metaphorical or referential. The language of proverbs employs images and pictures to compare experiences. Therefore, a proverb has literal and metaphoric meanings.
3. They are compressed/compact/concise/pithy. The message of the proverb is delivered using very few words but which are loaded with meaning.
4. Proverbs are fixed/static
the statement does not change with time and remains the same as it is handled down the generations. However, the relevance of the proverbs transcends the boundaries of time and space.
5. Proverbs are situational and contextual.
The nature of proverbs is such that they have to be conceived in a particular context. One proverb can be used to contradict another.
NB: at a more advanced level, the style of proverbs can be analyzed and found to employ such features of style as parallelism/juxtaposition, contrast. Imagery, idiophones, allusion, humour and sound patterns.