Proverbs in wellerisms

Carson Williams, Fionnuala (2007) Proverbs in wellerisms. Acta Ethnographica Hungarica, 52 (1). pp. 177-189. ISSN 1216-9803

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Abstract

This article examines one style of anti-proverb, the wellerism. It focuses on European (including Celtic) and North American data. It quantifies the frequency of wellerisms among anti-proverbs nowadays. It details which proverbs are used in wellerisms, and the common changes that they undergo. It also theorises about the processes that may occur after a proverb has been part of a wellerism. Based on examples collected by others it sets out the proverbs that occur in both wellerisms and other forms of anti-proverb, and points up that some proverbs become wellerisms but no other kind of anti-proverb. The article exemplifies wellerisms displaying the same proverb but different endings and the less common phenomenon, wellerisms created by different proverbs with the same ending. Indexing of wellerisms is discussed. Ireland is given as an example of how intensive searching can increase the stock of international wellerisms. The oral nature of the wellerism is highlighted and how this particular style of anti-proverb is unlikely to be used in advertising. The final point is about context and how it indicates that the purpose of constructing a wellerism on a proverb is to reinvent the proverb and ensure that its message is perpetuated.

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