| Review The motto
of the book is « Ce si ba karji »,
the Zarma proverb on the front page of the book.
Literally it signifies « the foot doesn't
like thorns ». The meaning of this proverb is
the people have an aversion to diseases,
badness, and they rather focus on fineness,
goodness, health.
Just another example to get you excited and
one that is recognizable.
« Ay si ay
ciiri daŋ caŋ ham ra » literally
signifies « I don't add my salt to rat meat ».
Bernard elucidates that salt is a scarce item in
certain villages. Rat meat is meat that is seen
as almost valueless, something that children
sometimes eat; their proud catch of their common
hunt. You don't « cast pearls before swine »
and you will carefully store your precious
possession for better, more suitable
circumstances.
As a foreigner you will certainly impress
people using proverbs in their language. And if
you use a proverb mistakenly, you will at least
have 'them laughing.
Maga-Mazou Areynatou shows the incredible
consequence of the usages of proverbs in the
preface of the book. She describes that even
non-Christian patients asked for support
and consolation after Yves Bernard started to
experiment using Zarma proverb in his daily
routine as (Christian) chaplain in the hospital.
He no longer was the catholic father Yves, but a
Zarma who brought comfort.
To get to the bottom of proverbs of a foreign
language also is to get to the bottom of the
foreign culture linked to the language. A
proverb is a world in a nutshell, it evokes
images and explains, for example, what is
important, dangerous of experienced as lovely.
This book is a must for anyone who aims to
work or travel for sometime in western Niger for
the above mentioned two reasons. Bernard's
choice for health as central theme of the book
is not a problem. Heath is without doubt an
important theme in daily live, but moreover,
almost all proverbs can be used in non-medical
situations as the second example given shows. The
situations suitable to use a proverb is
described by Bernard. The French used is easily
accessible, also because text are written
briefly and to the point, in my view quite
un-French.
The subject index is without doubt a pleasant
extra. By choosing a Zarma word proverbs can be
found in which the word plays a significant
role. The translation of the word is given in
the index.
Back
Structure of the book
The author is a systematist. Therefore
the book takes a lot after a book of
reference, for example, the numbering of
proverbs and the way of referring to sources
used. Nevertheless this book is a pleasure
to read and can be considered as a volume of
(very) short stories. Each night you could
read a tale before going to sleep.
The book begins with two brief introductions,
each of one page. The first is written by the
head of the department of linguistics of the
University of Niamey, the second by the author.
The introductions are followed by clear
explanatory notes. The book contains 92 proverbs
that are discussed in detail. The number of
proverbs you can make yourself familiar with is
many times larger, because many sections provide
several alternative proverbs for the proverb
discussed.
The book is made up of five chapters:
- health, a great wealth
- illnesses
- to take care of oneself, a vital
olbigation
- prevention of illness
- to sympathize
Each chapter contains proverbs that are
related to these themes. Three of the chapters
are subdivided based on sub-themes.
The specific theme is given above each
proverb discussed. The proverb is translated
both literally, word-for-word, and in a more
general sense. Subsequently the origin, use
within the framework of the field of health,
alternative proverbs, the philosophy, and use in
other fields are discussed. The alternative
proverbs are very helpful and are briefly
discussed as well, similar to the main proverb;
literal and general translation and a short
explanation. At the end, a few related (French)
proverbs are given and is referred to related
texts in the Bible and/or the Koran. These later
references stem of course from Bernard's
missionary background.
The comprehensive table of content is put in
the beginning of the book in contrast to many
other French books that put this table at the
end. The table of references at the end of the
book is short and only contains literature that
is not or not easily obtainable. The
acknowledgment and index are put in at the end
as well. The subject index gives entry via the
Zarma language.
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