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Imagery In Etsako Proverbs
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Ogbala, F. and Emenajo, N. defines proverbs ‘as a terse
statement which figuratively give expression to the point of traditional
wisdom relevant to given situationâ€. These two writer propose three
levels of meanings in most African proverbs and they are literary,
philosophical and contextual levels.
Krappe, Alexandra H. in his book
entitled, The Science of Folklore defines proverbs as “something which
represent which represents in its essential form, some homely truth
expressed in a concise and terse manner so as to recommend itself to a
more or less extended circleâ€. It is important to analyze figurative
speech proverbs in collation to the content of use in order to enhance
proper understanding and interpretation.
Another review of proverbs
is the one by A.E. Erhabe in Itan-Edo Etsako proverbs and their meaning
in English. The Etsako community is rich in culture and cannot be
controverter. A part of a people culture is their language. A.E. Erhagbe
thus attempts to put down some of these rich proverbs for the benefit
of the present and future generations. To make it easier for the natives
and non-natives to learn the proverbs, he gave the English equivalents
are not necessarily exact translations, but close meaning.
The over two hundred (200) proverbs are arranged in alphabetical order. Some examples are:
English = No smoke without fire
Etsako = Ai mie ewo gheti era or yorEnglish = The way to success if not smooth
Etsako
– Armie ughe nati okhai oni armie eche yorAccording to M.E. Omijeh in
his article of “Etsako proverbs, he says that proverbs are indispensable
in conversation, discussion or in supporting one’s argumentsâ€. In
village meetings, a speaker invariably follows up each idea with a
proverbs, and they never become too many or monotonous…as the most
impressive and effective method for expressing one’s ideas and feelings.
Ruth
Finnegan shares the view that “proverbs are rich source of imagery and
succinct expression in which more elaborate forms can drawâ€. Although
she further confesses the fact that the exact definition is no easy
matter, yet she says, “there is however some general agreement as to
what constitute a proverb. It is a saying in more or less fixed form
marked by shortness, sense and though distinguished by the popular
acceptance of the truth tersely expressed in it (393).
Proverbs also
have been defined as “an aphorism, a wise saying based upon people’s
experience and his reflection of the social values and sensibility of
the people (105).
In conclusion, proverbs may embrace moral embedded
metaphors, illustrate anecdotes, parables, when used to drive home a
moral in ongoing discourse. It is full of advice, meaning and humour. It
tries to correct ills of the society.
Imagery: Imagery has been defined by various people of all ages.
According
to Holman, C.H., Imagery in its literary sense means the collection of
images within a work or a unit of literary works. In a broader sense, it
is used synonymous with TROPE or FIGURE OF SPEECH (24).
Rene Wellek
and Austine Warren asked in their book, Theory of Literature, “is there
any important sense in which ‘symbol’ differ from ‘imagery?†they think,
in the recurrence and persistence of invollked once as a ‘metaphor’ but
if persistently recurs, both as presentation and representation, it
becomes a symbol, may even becomes part of symbolic system (187 – 189).
Another
definition is given by C. Day Lewis. He tells us that “an image is a
picture made out of words (17 – 18). David White also tells us that “it
is by words that things come into being†(29). Ezra Pound asserts that
“poetry is a dance among words and picks his images. Poetic image may be
described as all methods of making the kind of statement by which one
thing is perceived as resembling another. We shall also like to examine
R.N. Egudu’s definition of the image. According to him, an image is a
metal picture created by a writer by means of words he uses (29).
Imagery therefore are collection of images to create a mental picture through the use of words.
1.6JUSTIFICATION
Many
people have contributed their views as to what they think proverbs and
imagery is, according to Ogbalu and Co-edely to express a point in a
given situation. He looked at it from philosophical and textual level.
Krappes view is that proverbs is some homely truth expressed in a
concise and terse manner. J.O.U. Odiase simply classified it as a part
of Etsako (Edo) rich culture. While Ruth Finnegan in her book view
proverbs as rich source of imagery and succinct expression. Prof. F.B.O.
Akporobaro also shares the same view with others. According to him,
proverbs are wise saying which is based upon people’s experience in
revealing the people’s culture – belief and their general outlook on
life. R.N. Egudu viewed imagery as mental picture.
However, we find
that imagery is a major vehicle utilized by proverbs in discourse and
one of the main tools for driving home the points intended.
1.7THESIS STATEMENT
This
essay shows that Etsako proverbs are realized through the use of
concrete imagery, abstract imagery, sensory imagery and figurative
language.
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