The Blason Populaire : Slurs and Stereotypes in Irish Proverbial Material
2013; Routledge; Volume: 124; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/0015587x.2013.778445
ISSN1469-8315
Autores Tópico(s)Swearing, Euphemism, Multilingualism
ResumoAbstract This paper examines the concept of the blason populaire in a corpus of Irish-language proverbial material covering the period 1858–1952. It will demonstrate that the focus of these blasons populaires is primarily regional, as opposed to national or ethnic, and, furthermore, that such proverbs are usually jocular, descriptive, and benign, rarely exhibiting ethnic or racial slurs. The study identifies and analyses the most salient stereotypical characterizations, and the proverbial forms in which they appear. Notes 1 Widdowson identifies the anglicized form 'blazon' with this meaning as early as 1622 in Drayton's Poly-Olbion (1981, 45). 2 Christie Davies Davies, Christie. 2002. The Mirth of Nations, Piscataway, NJ: Transaction. [Google Scholar] suggests that the centre–periphery model may be used to understand the general use of humour in society (2002, 9–10). 3 For further detail on 'joking relationships', see Alfred Radcliffe-Brown (1940 Radcliffe-Brown, Alfred. 1940. On Joking Relationships. Africa: Journal of the International African Institute, 13(3): 195–210. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]). 4 Robert MacAdam originally published six hundred proverbs in the Ulster Journal of Ulster Archaeology, series 1, in 1858–62 (6: 172–83 and 250–67; 7: 278–87; 9: 223–36), and these were subsequently included in Seanfhocla Uladh. 5 The abbreviations SU, SM, and SC, will be used to refer to these collections when citing proverbial material. The editions used are: Ó Muirgheasa (1936 Ó Muirgheasa, Énrí. 1936. Seanfhocla Uladh, 2nd ed., [The proverbs of Ulster]. Dublin: Connradh na Gaedhilge, 1907 Dublin: Oifig an tSoláthair. [Google Scholar]), Ua Maoileoin (1984 Ua Maoileoin, Pádraig, ed. 1984. Seanfhocail na Mumhan, (an Seabhac a bhailigh agus a d'ullmhaigh an chéad eagrán) [The proverbs of Munster (the first edition collected and prepared by An Seabhac)] Dublin: An Gúm. Revised and expanded edition of Seanfhocail na Muimhneach by Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha. Cork: Cló-chualacht Seandúna, 1926 [Google Scholar]), and Uí Bhraonáin (2010 Uí Bhraonáin, Donla, ed. 2010. Seanfhocla Chonnacht, 2nd ed., [The proverbs of Connaught] Dublin: Cois Life. [Google Scholar]), respectively. 6 All English translations are by the author unless stated otherwise. 7 Albanach is commonly used in the Ulster dialect to refer to a Presbyterian or Protestant (settler) residing in the north of Ireland (Dinneen 1904 Dinneen, Patrick S. 1904. Foclóir Gaedhilge agus Béarla, [An Irish–English dictionary] Dublin: M. H. Gill and Son. [Google Scholar], 23). The fact that this is a Munster proverb which is not found in any of the other dialects indicates that this is not the intended meaning in this example. 8 Cf. SU§24; SM§2602; SC§646; SC§5170. 9 Cf. SM§2494; SM§1135; SU§71. 10 The Irish novel, Cré na Cille, by Máirtín Ó Cadhain, features a particularly caustic swipe at the fictional townland of 'Gort Ribeach'. Its barreness and destitution are targetted by the protagonist, Caitríona Pháidín, who frequently invokes the blason 'Gort Ribeach na Lochán a mblitear na lachain ann', 'Gort Ribeach of the Lakes where the ducks are milked' (Ó Cadhain 1996 Ó Cadhain, Máirtín. 1996. Cré na Cille, [Graveyard clay] Dublin: Sáirséal-Ó Marcaigh. [Google Scholar], 21). 11 Ballineetig (Dingle); Ballyneety (three examples in Co. Limerick); Ballyneety (Tipperary); Ballyneety (three examples in Co. Waterford). Accessed 7 August 2012. http://www.logainm.ie/.
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