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ON THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THERHETORICAL, MODAL, LOGICAL, ANDSYNTACTIC PLANESIN ESTONIAN PROVERBS

Part 2

Arvo Krikmann

4. SOME SYNTACTIC STEREOTYPES

The clearest and most effective indicators of the stereotypicality ofproverbs are not, however, the basic formulae of logic and degreesof modality or the basic patterns of semantic transformations orother similar constructs, but rather syntactic clichs with their moreor less clear correlations with stereotypes occurring on other lev-els.

Similarly, the well-known formula-like, or ornamental characterof proverbs which has led some scholars to believe that it is possi-ble to subject proverbs to a logical description, manifests itself firstand foremost as syntactic symmetry (in Estonian inevitably ac-companied by morphological symmetry). In the proverbs of Baltic-Finnic peoples (Finns, Karelians, Estonians, Votes) whose fond-ness of the so-called runic verse can be observed in a considerablepart of their metric folklore in several genres, structural symme-try is particularly frequent and pure, especially as compared toGerman or Russian proverbs, for example, in which end rhyme withits anti-parallelist effect is much more frequent. Syntactic symme-try is, by nature, yet another aspect of parallelism. Having in theabove discussion of the logical structure of proverbs pointed outa parallelist supra-implicational level, we should like to empha-size that in proverbs, manifestations of parallelism are certainlynot confined to this supra-level, but reach the basic implicationallevel as well.

dianaText Boxdoi:10.7592/FEJF1998.08.syntmod2

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A large number of syntactic stereotypes can be found in the prov-erbs of different nations. Some of them are associated with certainpatterns called syntactic formulae such as,

Kes..., see... (He who..., ...);Kui..., siis... (If / When..., (then)...);Kuidas..., nnda..., (Like..., like...);Parem..., kui... (Better..., than...);Igal... oma... (Every... has its own...) etc.,

marked, as we can see, even lexically. The rest are just frequentlyrecurring syntactic patterns. Examples of such stereotypes can befound in the introduction to Vanasnaraamat (Book of Proverbs)and in my articles on logical structure of proverbs (Krikmann 1984and 1987). Until recently, there was no systematic account of thestereotypes and their productivity in Estonian proverbs. The sur-vey below, however sketchy, is an attempt to fill this gap.

Ever since Eleanor Rosch publications, cognitive psychology andlinguistics have been interested in the so-called natural classifica-tions and the related notion of a prototype. There is reason to be-lieve that, instead of being formed on the classical basis of the ge-neric and the specific, natural classifications rather tend to be basedon certain prototypes around which the human mind will buildclasses with indistinct, fuzzy boundaries, and such natural classi-fications are based on certain natural associations of properties, orsyndromes. The trouble with natural classifications is that theynever cover everything that can be classified, and one way the natu-ral classification (and language in general) can overcome this diffi-culty is to classify the world from a particular aspect and in just asmuch detail as necessary, doing it on the principle something im-portant and the rest. As a result, we have, say, wedding songs,swinging songs, Martinmas songs, cradle songs, harvest songs etc.,and in addition, just songs. Even some more consistent naturalclassifications may be structured radially on the principle some-thing important versus all the rest and if such a classificationcomes from an alien culture, it may strike us as absurd and totallyillogical, for we just do not know what is considered important inthat culture and what is not.

Two beautiful examples of such classification have been quoted sideby side by the cognitivist semanticist and metaphor theorist GeorgeLakoff (1987:92ff).

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Example 1 represents fiction. This is J.L. Borges classification ofanimals, taken as if from a fictitious Old-Chinese encyclopaediaCelestial Emporium of Benevolent Knowledge.Example 2 represents reality, showing the classification of objectsin the Dyirbal language, which is one of the aboriginal languagesspoken in Australia (Lakoff says he has borrowed the example fromR.M.W. Dixon).[See also, e.g., http://www.virtualschool.edu/mon/SocialConstruction/LakoffWomenFireDanger.html]

The following attempt to classify formal stereotypes bears a closeresemblance to the above examples, especially the Old-Chineseone. There is no fixed level hierarchy, instead I have just tried toguess what the prototypes might be. The classification is not evenpurely syntactic, being based on syntactic as well as on modal fea-tures. The attention has been concentrated on

(1) whether the proverb contains imperative components or not,(2) whether there is a parallelist high level in the text structureor not, and(3) whether the basic level of the text is expressed as a simplesentence or a symmetrical implication.

When analysing the material, I tried to simplify it as much as pos-sible. As the units classified are individual texts (to be more exact,the head texts of authentic folk proverbs from the academic publi-cation Eesti vanasnad (Estonian Proverbs), 12671 texts in total),the effects of syntactical or modal synonymy cannot be observed.Every untypical and/or complex and/or hybrid form has been elimi-nated from discussion. Nothing at all has been said about simplesentences (to save space and effort).

So I came up with the following list of eight syntactic-modalmetaclasses, or prototypes. The prototypes have been accompaniedby rather inaccurate and preliminary assessment of their frequencyin Estonian archive material: the T-column carries the number ofdifferent proverb types following the pattern in question, while theV-column shows how many authentic archive texts are representedby the types. (This number is just a rough approximation as everyproductive proverb is characterized by a syntactic variation not atall less rich than lexical variation.)

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Next, our modest attempt at classification will be presented in amore detailed way. For lack of space we have been able to providethe subclasses with but a few examples, no more than 10% of thetotal number of appropriate texts for smaller subclasses, and ab.5% for bigger ones. Like the metaclasses, every subclass is pro-vided with T and V values: if the name of the subclass is, for exam-ple, followed by the numbers (60170), it means that our samplecontains ab. 60 different proverbs of this type, representing about170 authentic archive texts.

A. Indicative simple sentences without co-ordinated partsor equalization

In order to avoid remaining in total darkness, we shall present avery short list of the most widespread proverbs in the form of sim-ple sentences, just ab. 1% of the appropriate proverb types.

Suur tkk ajab suu lhki (A big piece will rend the mouth)Kbi ei kuku knnust kaugele (A cone never falls far from thestump)Hda ajab hrja kaevu (Need drives an ox down the well)Sber sbra perse koorib (A friend will skin another friends arse)Thi toob tli majasse (Want will bring strife to the house)Valel on lhikesed jalad (A lie has short legs)Veereval kivil ei kasva sammalt (A rolling stone gathers no moss)Terav kirves leiab kivi (A sharp axe will find a stone)Thi kott ei seisa psti (An empty sack cannot stand upright)Oma kiitus haiseb (Self-praise stinks)lekohus ei seisa kotis (Injustice wont keep in a sack)Uus luud phib puhta toa (A new broom sweeps clean)

Class T VA. Indicative simple sentences 2730 18450B. Non-equative sentences with recurrent parts 490 1580C. Equalities and comparisons 580 2630D. Inequalities (incl. preferences) 710 4970E. Symmetric implicational patterns 2660 15230F. Units with a parallelist supra-level (in total) 2160 18100G. Units with an imperative verb form (in total) 1450 9740H. Rhetorical questions 390 2560

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Ksi peseb ktt (A hand will wash another)Hea sna vidab vra ve (A kind word can win a hostile force)Ega agan agana ple haugu (A grain-husk doesnt bark at an-other grain-husk)ige hlma ei hakka kski (No one will tear at a right manscoat)Hunt hunti ei murra (A wolf will not kill another wolf)Jagajale jvad npud (A dispenser will be left with his barefingers)Omad vitsad peksavad kige valusamini (Ones own rod beatsthe hardest)Aeg annab head nu (Time gives good advice)Jakob viskab raudnaela heinasse (Jacob throws an iron nail intohay)Ega nimi meest ei riku (A name wont spoil a man)Uhkus ajab upakile (Pride will make a man topple over)Igal linnul oma laul (Every bird has its own song)Vagu lambaid mahub palju hte lauta (Many meek sheep willfind room in one shed)Kll koer koera tunneb (A dog will recognize another)

B. Non-equalizing sentences with recurrent partsB1. Sentences with contrasting predicative components (60

170):Naesterahval on pitkad juuksed, lhikesed mtted (Womenfolkhas long hair, but short minds)Vaenelaps vaksa kasvab, kaks kahaneb (An orphan grows by aspan, diminishes by two)Jumala kivid jahvatavad pitkalt, aga vga peenikeste (Lordsmillstones grind slow, but very fine)Sgisel on suve silmad, aga talve hambad (Autumn has sum-mers eyes, but winters teeth)

B2a. Affirmative sentences with synonymous predicativecomponents (100230):Vra leib kirg kikkani, vaak valgeni (A strangers bread willcrow till cockcrow, caw it will till the morning sun)Nuur tdrik, sel kpseb prsas pvves, kana kaindlas ja nisuleibnisa all (A young maiden well, such a one has a piglet growing

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on her bosom, a chick under her armpit and a wheaten loaf un-der the breast)Edimine iki hiirtel, harakil (The first specimen will always goto mice and magpies)Leisik liiva ja nael karvu sb iga inimene aastas ra (Twentypounds of sand and a pound of hair are in every mans yearlymenu)Talupojad toitvad saksad ja sandid (Peasants feed both gentle-folks and beggars)Jaagobipevast jb kaste knka re, hall aja re (Since St.Jacobs Day dew will remain on the hill, hoarfrost will stay nearthe fence)

B2b. Negative sentences with synonymous predicativecomponents (3070):Htego pala-ai tull, i upu-ui vette (A good deed wont burn infire, nor drown in water)Ema ei snni vakka ega varna (Mother doesnt fit in a bushel,nor on a peg)Kitmine ei tii kedgi parembas, ei paksembas (Praise doesntmake anyone better, nor fatter)

B3. Sentences with recurrent parts, in which the predicativecomponents stand in an ambiguous or vague relation (2030):Klm ajab mehe ree pealt maha, istub ise peale (Frost drives aman off the sled and gets on himself)Maailm lheb vanemaks ja pv-pvalt ikka targemaks (Theworld gets older and, from day to day, wiser)Raha tuleb, raha lheb (Money comes, money goes)Inimene on ise oma jumal ja ise oma kurat (Man is his own Godand his own Devil)

B4. Sentences with recurrent parts branching off on acalendary, or some other temporal principle (1015):Tedre lauluaeg peab olema kaks ndalad enne ja kaks plejripeva (A blackcocks singing time is two weeks before andtwo after St. Georges Day)

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Enne ja prast prtlepeva kolm peva ollev lepp paju poolvelle(Three days before and after St. Bartholomews Day alder issaid to be willows half-brother)

C. Equalities and comparisonsC1a. Equalities of the type A is B (20100):

Tahtmine on taevariik (Desire is heaven)Aeg on raha (Time is money)Silm on kuningas (The eye is the king)Leib on peremees (Bread is the master)

C1b. Equalities of the type A is Bs C and inverse forms ofthe type Bs C is A (165840):Habe on mehe au (Beard is a mans honour)Suu on sdame mt (Mouth is hearts measure)Naine on maja lukk (Woman is the lock of the house)Laiskus on kuradi peapadi (Lazyness is the Devils pillow)Vaene on rikka roog (A poor man is a rich mans food)Mees on naise pea (Husband is his wifes head)Ettevaatus on tarkuse ema (Caution is the mother of wisdom)Haigus on surma ksk (Disease is Deaths messenger)Lukk on looma vari (A lock is an animals cover)Tnisepev on talve hari (St. Anthonys Day is winters ridge)Tamm on talupoja raud (Oak is farmers iron)Lapsed on vaese varandus (Children are a poor mans fortune)Musu on muu asja ksiraha (A kiss is a handsel for somethingelse)Koera palk on malk (A dogs reward is cudgel)Teemehe lukk on slm (A wanderers lock is a knot)

C1c. Other be-predicated comparisons beginning with asubject (60180):Mets on vaese mehe kasukas (Forest is a poor mans furcoat)Kht on kige kurjem kubjas (Stomach is the most ruthless fore-man)Siga on ausa mehe leivakrvane (Pork is an honest mans foodbeside bread)T on lolli inimese ajaviide (Work is a fools pastime)Kannatus on kallis asi (Patience is a precious thing)

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Tarkus on tarviline vara (Wisdom is a valuable property)Isa on pere leiva tugi (Father is the familys bread support)

C1d. Equalities of the form A is half of B and A is two Bs (15130):

Puhtus on puul elu (Cleanliness is half the life)Kang om kats miist (A lever is two men)

C2. Equalities beginning with a declinable attribute (50450):Vaga siga koti naaber (A tame pig is a bags neighbour)Julge pealehakkamine on pool vitu (A brave beginning is halfthe victory)Thi kht on kige parem kokk (Hunger is the best cook)Kuues klindal on rohundal (The sixth sowing week is a grassweek)Hea sdametunnistus on pehme peapadi (A good conscience is asoft pillow)Loll pea on kere nuhtlus (A stupid head is the bodys scourge)

C3. Equalities beginning with a genitive attribute or anattributive word (3080):Loodetuul on taevaluud (North-Western wind is the skys broom)Rahaahnus on kige kurja juur (Greed for money is the root ofall evil)Heateo palk on kuri malk (The reward for a good deed is a badcudgel)

C4a. Elliptic equalities with recurrent parts, or equalitieswith is or and as copula (40120):Teine inimene on teise kurat (A man is another mans Devil)Vana tee vana sber (An old way [is (like)] an old friend)Lapse nahk ja koera nahk (A childs skin and a dogs hide [shouldhardly be spared])ks koer teise vader (A dog is anothers sponsor)

C4b. Equalities with a full ellipsis or an and-copula, butwithout recurrent stems (1070):Kevadine pev sgisene ndal (A spring day [is the same as]an autumn week)Poisslaps tkutslg (A boy [is like ] a colt)

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Vihma vili ja pua skal (Rains grain and a droughts chaff [arethe same])

C4c. Verbless equalities with an or-copula (1060):Naise varast rikkust vi koerasitast snikut ( [One never gets]any riches out of a wifes property or manure out of dogshit)Salajutt vi salasitt (Secret talk or secret fart [both will stinksooner or later])Poesi kiil vai uisa kiil (A boys tongue or a snakes tongue [areequally evil])

C4d. Equalities of the type A and B are the same ~alike (40130):Lapse klm ja koera nlg on ks (A childs [feeling] cold or adogs hunger are the same)Naise rikkus ja titi pikkus on ks (A womans wealth and a prickslength are the same)Lesk mees ja ligatud koer on ks (A widower and a gelded dogare the same)

C5a. Comparisons beginning with a simple subject, and us-ing the verb be (1515):Siga on nagu saks (A pig is like a gentleman)Vanatdrik kui kuijono kattai (A spinster [is] like a dodderedjuniper)Elu on lhike nigu uni (Life is short like a dream)

C5b. Comparisons using the verb be or an ellipsis, begin-ning with a declinable attribute (1570):Kevadine lumi on kui kord snnikut pllule (Spring snow is likea layer of manure to a field)Rikas naine kui resu silmas (A rich woman [is] like a dust in theeye)Lesk mees nagu soendud supp (A widower [is] like warmed soup)

C5c. Comparisons using ellipsis or the verb be and begin-ning with a genitive attribute (3070):Mihe sugulane um ku tprarasvaga ruug (Husbands kin is likea meal with suet [i.e. not as tasty as made with lard])

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Laisa t nagu kana haudub mdamuna peal (A lazy manswork like a hen sitting on a rotten egg)Vaese elu on kui tuli toores puus (A poor mans life is [burninglow] like fire in undried wood)

C5d. Comparisons with the verb be, the halves of which re-peat certain declinable verb forms or their ellipses (1040):Kolm korda kolida on niisamma h ku ks kord pleda (Tomove thrice is as good as to burn down once)Naestega vaidlemine on kui vasikaga vidu jooksmine (Arguingwith women is like racing a calf)Ttar mehele laulatetud on nagu kikk leivast ra leigatud (Adaughter married to a man is like a slice cut off the loaf)

C5e. Comparisons with verbs other than be (1570):Uma kitt hais ku sitt (Self-praise stinks like shit)Inimse elu ripub kui juuksekarva otsas (Human life as if hangson a hair)

C6a. A is B -equalities with the common feature made ex-plicit (34):Lapsed on linnud: saavad suled selga, ongi linud (Childrenare birds: as soon as they get their feathers on they are gone)Poissmiis puulhrg: slt s, kost saa (A bachelor [is] half abull: eats wherever he finds food)

C6b. A (is) like B -comparisons with the common featuremade explicit (2030):Lesk naine kui madal aed, kust kik le lhvad (A widow [is]like a low fence where everyone goes over)Talupoeg on nagu tolmune kott, ikka natuke tuleb (A peasant islike a dusty sack, a little can always be got out of it)Thi jutt on kui hundi sitt: must ja karvane (A gossip [literally:empty story] is like a wolf s shit: black and hairy)

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C6c. Comparisons beginning with A and B (are the same) orA or B, with the common feature made explicit (1015):Siga ja sepp on ks: siga teeb sita, sepp teeb raua uueks (A pigand a blacksmith are the same: a pig makes shit new, a black-smith makes iron new)Sanna palamine vai latse kuulmine vikene asi (A sauna burntdown or a childs death both are trifles)

C6d1. A and B -initiated equalities with the common fea-ture made explicit, which are syntactically affirmativesentences with two subjects (130590):Rikka haigus ja vaese lu on kuulsad (A rich mans illness and apoor mans ale are famous)Noored neiud ja nisuleib lhevad ruttu vanaks (Young maidensand wheaten bread get old soon)Naisterahva t ja mrahobuse smine ei lpe iial otsa (A wom-ans work and a mares eating never end)Puhas suu, puhas ksi kib maailma lbi (A clean mouth, aclean hand will travel round the world)Mehine pere ja hrine kari vtavad Jumala kest vgisi (A mas-culine household and a cattle of many oxen will take from Godby force)Vaeste vasikad ja rikaste lapsed surevad noorelt (Poor peoplescalves and rich peoples children die young)Surnu pra ja naise vara ei kesta kaua (A dead mans heritageand a womans dowry dont last long)

C6d2. Neither A nor B -initiated equalities with the commonfeature made explicit, which are syntactically negativesentences with two subjects or two objects (40200):Laastutuli ja laenuleib ei kesta kaua (Neither chip fire nor bor-rowed bread last long)Naisterahva viha ja vesikaare tuul ei anna enne jrele kui vesivljas (Neither a womans anger nor the west-northwest windgive way before water comes)Inimese tahtmine ega prgu ei saa iial tis (Neither a mansdesire nor hell ever gets fulfilled)

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C6e. Lists of more than two objects treated as similar, withthe common feature made explicit (50290):Kana laulmise, naise vilistamise ja lehma mirgamise hlkostab prgu (The sound of a hen crowing, a woman whistlingand a cow roaring will reach hell)Ilmas pole kolme asja: kivil juurt, linnul piima, veel oksa (Threethings are absent from this world: a stones root, a birds milkand waters twig)Jrisid, Marisid, krvhobusid ja kveraid puid kik kohad tis(There are crowds of Jris, Maris, sorrel horses and bent treeseverywhere)ks titsamees ei anna teisele tarvitada oma nuga, hobust janaist (A real man wont make his knife, horse, or wife availableto another man)

D. Inequalities (including preferences)D1a. Symmetric Better... than... -preferences (3402930):

Parem suutis soolast kui maotis magedat (Better a mouthfulof salted food than a stomach full of sweet stuff)Parem karta kui kahetseda (Better be cautious than repent)Parem hoida kui oiata (Better beware than groan)Parem vana habeme all kui noore piitsa all (Better under an oldmans beard than under a young mans whip)Parem korts kannas kui vill varbas (Better a wrinkle at the heelthan a blister on the toe)Parem on oma ema vits kui veraema vileib (Better ones ownmothers rod than a stepmothers buttered bread)Parem oma riide soe kui teise mehe t soe (Better ones ownclothes warmth than the warmth of working for another man)Parem kodu koorukesed kui vileib vrsil (Better pieces of crustat home than buttered bread away from home)Parem paluke leiba kui paha sna (Better a piece of bread thana bad word)Parem varblane peos kui tuvi katusel (Better a sparrow in thehand than a pigeon on the roof)Parem snu sta kui koolu kosutada (Its better to feed a fedone than to restore a dead one)Parem vana varjun kui noore ilun (Its better [to live] under anold mans shade than in a young mans beauty)

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Parem paksu painutada kui peenikest peran vedada (Its betterto bend a plump one than to drag a slim one behind)Parem oma ema must puder kui vraema vileib (Better thedark porridge of your own mother than a stepmothers butteredbread)Parem hva rooga le jtta kui vatsa revestada (Its better toleave some good food untaken than to split the stomach)Paremb laih laudan ku vkev vl pl (Better a skinny one inthe shed than a well-fed one in the field)

D1b. Better-preferences with a nonsymmetrical simple sen-tence structure (40120):ks vana sber on parem kui kaks uut (An old friend is betterthan two new ones)Oma ema leib on parem kui vraema vidleib (Ones own moth-ers bread is better than a stepmothers bread and butter)dagune uhetu om paremp ku hummugune mstu (Rinsed inthe evening is better than washed in the morning)Kodu om paremb ku pidu (Home is better than a feast)

D2a. Sooner-inequalities with a symmetric structure (50330):Enne saab klla kljest kui nlja otsast (You may sooner getsomething from plenty than from hunger)Enne saab madal marja maast ku krge the taevast (A low onesooner gets a berry from the ground than a tall one picks a starfrom the sky)Ennemb saat kidsi rikka kest kui helde vaese kest (You soonerget something out of a rich and stingy man than a poor and kindone)

D2b. Sooner-inequalities with the structure of a nonsym-metric simple sentence (15110):Veike kivi lkkab ennem koorma mber kui suur (A little stonewill upset a load sooner than a big one)Em plve naal kasuse lats innembi ku es salve naal (Leaningon its mothers knee a child will grow sooner than leaning on itsfathers bin)

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D3. More-inequalities (enam in Estonian) with a symmetricstructure (20220):Enam saab ikka piskust tst kui suurest seisust (More isachieved by a little work than by a long rest)Enam tehakse nuga kui juga (More is done by wit than byforce)Enamb saap suur suikja kui kavva magaja (A frequent dozer[i.e. a slow worker] gets more than a long sleeper)

D4. More-inequalities (enam or rohkem in Estonian) with thestructure of a non-symmetric simple sentence (120470):Arm aitab enam kui hirm (Love helps more than fear)Laps on enam kui laast (A child is more [useful] than a splinter)Isa sna enam kui ema vits (Fathers word is more than moth-ers birch)Tasane tsiga tsung enamb maad ku rhtelleja (A quiet pig groutsmore than a grunter)Vsinu hobesele om tema krva suurune kikk leib enmb kuikarnits kaaru (For a tired horse a slice of bread the size of itsear is more than a measure [3.28 l] of oats)Naine juab pllega rohkem vlja kanda kui mees koormagasisse vedada (A woman can carry out more in her apron than aman can carry in by a load)Jnes teeb he ga rohkem jlgi kui varsaga hobune le suve(A hare leaves more traces during a night than a mare with afoal during a summer)

D5. Symmetrically or non-symmetrically structured easier-inequalities (1030):Kergem teist laita kui ise paremini teha (Its easier to criticizeanother person than to act better oneself)Kergemb kulata ku td tet (Its easier to rollick than to work)Rumalaste ksida on kergem kui targaste kosta (Its easier toask a foolish question than to give a clever answer)Hoobelda on kergem kui maksta (Its easier to boast than to pay)

D6. Bigger-inequalities with the structure of a non-symmet-ric simple sentence (1520):Sna vgi on suuremb kui sjavgi (The power of a word is big-ger than [the power of] an army)

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Hunt le aja minnes on suurem kui hobune (A wolf, when jump-ing over a fence, is bigger than a horse)

D7. Worse-inequalities with the structure of a non-symmet-ric simple sentence (1015):Liinah om hullp ku laanh (Its worse in a town than in a for-est)Proosta olk om hullb ku vargus (Vulgar manners are worsethan stealing)

D8. Sweeter-inequalities with the structure of a non-sym-metric simple sentence (530):Kevadine muld on magusam kui sgisene dal (Spring earth issweeter than autumn aftergrass)Uni on magusam kui mesi (Sleep is sweeter than honey)

D9. More precious-inequalities (kallim in Estonian) with thestructure of a non-symmetric simple sentence (520):Aus nimi on kallim kui kuld (An honest name is more preciousthan gold)Raholine sd om kallimp kui kuld (A heart at peace is moreprecious than gold)

D10. Older-inequalities with the structure of a non-symmet-ric simple sentence (1050):Kaup on vanem kui meie (A deal is older than we are)Ksk on vanem kui inimene (Fiat is older than man)igus on vanem kui kohus (Justice is older than court [or: Rightis older than duty])

D11. Wiser-inequalities with the structure of a non-symmet-ric simple sentence (10160):Muna on targem kui kana (An egg is wiser than a hen)Hommik on targem kui htu (Morning is wiser than evening)htu on targem kui hommik (Evening is wiser than morning)

D12. Inequalities with other comparative words (50300):ndsam on anda kui vtta (Its more beatific to give than totake)Veri on paksem kui vesi (Blood is thicker than water)

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Igavam on lehm lpses kui tappes (A cow milked lasts longerthan a cow killed)Oma suu on ikki lhemal ku latse suu (Ones own mouth is al-ways closer than a childs mouth)Kaks silma ulatavad kaugemale kui ks (Two eyes reach far-ther than one)

D13. Various negative inequalities (20150):Hunt ei ole nii suur, kui hurjutatakse (The wolf is not as big asits rated)Ega putru nii palavalt sa, kui keedetakse (Porridge is nevereaten as hot as its cooked)Muna pole targem kui kana (An egg is not wiser than a hen)Kurat pole kunagi nii hirmus, kui teda maalitakse (The Devil isnever as terrible as its painted)

D14. Inequalities explained (510):Armastus on hullem kui soetobi: soetobi ajab p paljaks,armastus ajab pe- paljaks (Love is worse than typhoid fever typhoid fever pulls the head bald, love pulls the arse bald)

E. Implications without a parallelist supra-levelE1a. Elliptic texts interpretable as universal implications

(4002080):Vaga vesi, sgav phi (Still water, deep bottom [= Still watersrun deep])heksa ametit, kmnes nlg (Nine trades, hunger the tenth)Persealune soe, ninaalune klm (Seat warm, food cold)Unustab hoidja, tabab pdja (Failed by the guardian, caughtby the pursuer)Varsan pid, vanan pead (Learnt when a foal, kept when old)Harva kid, ausast peetakse (Seldom visiting, well treated)Rummal p, pallu vaiva (A stupid head, lots of trouble)Kaste enne jripeva, rukis enne jaakobeid (Dew before St.Georges Day, rye before St. Jacobs)Hooletus ees, nnetus taga (Neglect first, accident next)Kutsumata verad, teadmata roog (Guests unbidden, food un-known)kki haarad, suu palutad (Hastily grabbed, mouth burnt)Otav kala, laih liim (Cheap fish, weak soup)

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Tasa sidad, kaugemale juad (If you drive softly, youll get far-ther [=Soft and fair goes far])Paha koer, parem nn (A bad dog, better luck)

E1b. Elliptic texts interpretable as universal implicationsor parallelist non-generalized patterns of the type A andB, A, but B etc. (20920):Palju lapsi, laiad silmad (Many children, wide eyes [Warningagainst eavesdroppers]) ees, surm selja taga (Night ahead, death close behind)Palju kisa, vhe villu (Big raw, little wool)

E2a. Implications with If... then... (5101080):Kui tnisepeval nii paljugi pikest paistab, et mees neb hobuseselga hpata, siis tuleb kena aeg (If there is enough sunshinefor a man to get on horseback on St. Anthonys Day, therell benice weather)Kui saad le koera, saad ka le saba (If youve got over the dog,youll get over the tail as well)Kui seitsmevennapeval sajab, siis sajab seitse ndalat (If it rainson the Day of the Seven Sleepers [June 27], it will rain for sevenweeks)Kui knlapva ajal saab hrg rsta alt juua, siis maarja-pva ajal ei saa kukkki (If a bull can drink from eavesdroppingsat Candlemas, even a cock cant do it on Lady Day)Kui paastumaarjapeva sel klmab, klmab veel 40 d (If itfreezes on Lady Day night, it will freeze on 40 more nights)Kui maarjapeva l klm kanamuna vljas lhki lb, siis tulebklm kevade (If an egg will crack outdoors of cold on Lady Daynight, there will be a cold spring)Kui kevade klm vtab konnakudu, vtab sgise vilja (If frogsspawn is frozen in spring cold, crops will be taken by autumnfrosts)Kui maarjapeval lumi katusel, siis jripev hanged aia res(If snow lies on rooftops on Lady Day, there will be snowdrifts atfences on St. Georges Day)Kui mihklipevaks puulehed maas, siis jripevaks rohi maas(If the trees are leafless on Michaelmas, it will be grassy on St.Georges Day)

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Kui pad kigest vest, saad le igast mest (If you try fromall your might, you will get over every mountain)On kange snn, siis ka kanged kohitsejad (If the bull is strong,the gelders are strong too)Kui ei ole surmatbi, siis saab ikka viinast abi (If the disease isnot fatal, spirits will help)Kui Jumal loob lolli, siis loob lollile ka molli (If God creates afool, he creates a trough for him, too)Kui mardipeval Sel selgelt looja lheb, siis tuleb h vilja-aasta (If the Pleiades set cloudless on Martinmas, there will begood crops next year)Kui madisepevl saeab, siis on paelu marju ja mardikid (If itsnows on St. Matthews Day [February 24], there will be lots ofberries and bugs)Kui mardipeval lumi katuste pl, siis lihadephade aeg kah(If snow is on roofs on Martinmas, it will be there on Easter aswell)Kui rkkioras enne jripeva paigast ra liigub, siis saab ennejaagupipeva ligata (If rye crop straightens up before St.Georges Day, there may be harvest before St. Jacobs Day)Kui saab sant, siis saab sandi poiss ka (If the beggar gets some-thing, the beggars boy gets something too)

E2b. Reverse kui (= if or when) -implications (150550):Siis on hrjal hnda tarvis, kui kiil kallale tuleb (The ox needshis tail when a gadfly attacks)Ega siis hing hukka ei lhe, kui ihu harida saab (A soul wontperish if the body is cleansed [about corporal punishment])Ega kade keela, kui helde tahab (A stingy one wont forbid whena generous one wishes)Kll nid nu ld, ku poig puvva viis (Surely a witch will finda way, if her son is taken to gallows)Abi saab ikka, kui arstitakse (There will be help, if treatment isapplied)Ega kuer siis kiljata, kui kondiga visata (A dog will not squealwhen hit by a bone)Jripev kui hobssita pl ka halltki om, ss saa iks hsuvi (If there is frost at least on horse manure on St. GeorgesDay, there will be a good summer)

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E3. Implications with until-patterns (70640):Koer haugub, kuni klaline tuleb (A dog will bark until a guestarrives)Seeni spra kui sira (A friend until cheese [hasnt been fin-ished])Inimene pib niikaua, kui ta elab (A man learns until he lives)Seni kurg kooles, kui soo sulas (The stork will die before theswamp thaws)Peni seeni hauk, kui susi karja manu tule (A dog will bark untila wolf comes near the cattle)Sant tnab seni, kui suu mrg on (A beggars thanks last untilhis mouth is wet)

E4. Where..., there... -implications and reverse implicationswith (there)... where... (2202200):Kus suitsu, seal sooja (Where there is smoke, theres warmth)Kus hunti kneldakse, seal hunt on (A wolf mentioned, a wolfpresent)Kus tegijaid, seal ngijaid (Where there are doers, there arewitnesses)Kus suitsu, seal tuld (Where there is smoke, theres fire [= Nosmoke without fire])Kus hda kige suurem, seal abi kige lhem (Where the need isthe greatest, the help is the closest)Kus htu, seal maja (Night will give the lodging [literally:Where the evening, there the lodging])Kus puud raiutakse, seal langevad laastud (Where trees arefelled, chips are bound to fall)Kodu sl, kus kotid maas (Home is where the package isdumped)Siga sb sealt, kus mold ees (A pig eats wherever it finds atrough)

E5. Implications with How many..., so many... (510):Mitu pd, setu meelt (How many heads, so many minds)Mitu meest, setu aru (How many men, so many minds)

E6. Implications with Like..., like..., As..., so... etc. and theirreverse forms (2001770):Kuidas knd, nnda vsu (Like stump, like twig)

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Kuidas lind, nnda laul (Like bird, like song)Kudas kla mulle, nnda mina klale (The way the village actstowards me, the way Ill react towards the village)Kuidas lkkad, nnda lheb (The way you push, the way it goes)Kuidas t, nnda palk (As work, as pay)Kuida vakk, nnda kaas (As the box, as the lid)Kuidas metsa had, nnda vastu kostab (The way you shout tothe forest, the way the forest will resound)Kuidas klv, nnda likus (Like sowing, like harvest)Kuidas mets ruttab, nnda pllumees ka (As the forest hurrieson, so does the farmer)Kuidas ema, nnda ttar (Like mother, like daughter)Lind laulab nii, nagu nokk siatud (So the bird will sing, as itsbeak has grown)

E7. Comparative The ...-er ..., the ...-er ... -implications (105820):Mida armsam laps, seda kibedam vits (The dearer the child,the harder falls the birch)Mida rohkem koeri koos, seda vesisem lake (The more dogs inthe pack, the weaker the lap)Mida varem, seda parem (The earlier, the better)Mida krgemad lumehanged, seda suuremad viljarugud (Thehigher the snowdrifts, the bigger the cornricks)Mida enam kassi silitad, seda krgemale ta saba tstab (Themore you stroke the cat, the higher it raises its tail)Mida viksim, seda litsim (The more polite, the less reliable)

E8a. Implications with what-antecedent (Mis..., see... andMida..., seda... -patterns in Estonian) (2201550):Mis hundi suus, see hundi khus (What is in a wolf s mouth, isin a wolf s stomach)Mis ajast, see arust (Out of time, out of mind [literally: Whatis..., is...])Mida Juku ei pi, seda Juhan ei tea (What Juku [a boy] doesntlearn, Juhan [as a grown man] wont know)Mis tna tehtud, see homme hooleta (What is done today, neednot be cared about tomorrow)Mida klvad, seda likad (What you sow, you will mow)Mis meele peal, see keele peal (What is on your mind, is on yourtongue)

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Mis koer ei ne, seda koer ei haugu (What the dog doesnt see, itdoesnt bark about)Mis he meelest kuld, see teise meelest muld (What is gold forone man, is but dust for another)

E8b. Reverse implications with ..., what... (See..., mis..., Ei...,mis..., Kik..., mis... -formulae in Estonian) (40230):Ei aiasiga tea, mis ueseale tarvis on (Never would a fatting pigknow what a free-running pig wants)Hrg pillab he korraga, mis ssk mber aasta (An ox willdrop at a time what a gnat [would drop] round the year)Kik on thi, mis sant laulab (Whatever a beggar sings is vain)

E9a. Implications with He who..., ... (Kes..., see... -formula inEstonian) (4601840):Kes teisele auku kaevab, see ise sisse kukub (He who digs a holefor another [to fall], will fall in himself)Kes kopikat ei korja, see rublat ei saa (He who doesnt save acopeck, wont get a rouble ever)Kes kannatab, see kaua elab (He who suffers patiently, will livelong)Kes kahju kardab, see nne ei leia (He whos afraid of risk, wontfind his luck)Kes kik nmmed kntsib, see kik marjad maitseb (He whowalks every moor, knows the taste of every berry)Kes koera ei sda, see sdab varast (He who doesnt feed adog, feeds the thief)Kes hiljaks jb, see ilma jb (He who comes late, gets noth-ing)Kes otsib, see leiab (He who seeks will find)Kes ei tna pisku eest, see ei tna palju eest (He who doesntthank for a little, will not thank for much either)Kes naeru kardab, see peeru sureb (He whos afraid of laughter,will die in fart)Kes palju rgib, see palju valetab (He who talks much, tells alot of lies)Kes prast naerab, naerab paremini (He who laughs last, laughsbest)Kes kellaga lehma otsib, see sitase saba saab (He who seeks fora cow with a bell, will get [a cow with] a dirty tail)

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Kes kik phad peab, see kik nljad neb (He who feasts everyholiday, will have to suffer every hunger)Kes tuult klvab, see tormi likab (He who sows wind, will reapstorm)Kes hirmuta kasvab, see auta elab (He who grows without fear,will live without honour)

E9b. Reverse implications with Hes..., who... , Such a... that...etc. (4090):Ei see siga sigine, kes ei vingu viiessa (Such a pig will not thrivethat doesnt squeal when carried off)Narr on see, kes rohkem lubab, kui ta juab (Foolish is the manwho promises more than he can do)Lammas on, kes end niita laseb (Its sheep that has itself shorn)

E9c. Implications with whom-antecedent (Keda..., seda andKeda..., see... in Estonian) and their inverse patterns (15110):Keda isa ei peta, seda petab ilm (He who is not taught by fa-ther will be taught by the world)Keda ei nha nmikus, seda ei sihita siidiski (She who is notnoticed in plain clothes wont be interesting [literally: aimed] insilk either)

E9d. Implications with whose-antecedent (Kelle..., selle... inEstonian) and their inverse forms (40610):Kelle jalg tatsub, selle suu matsub (Whose foot strides, his mouthsmacks)Kelle ked sitaga, selle suu saiaga (Whose hands are in dirt, hismouth is full of white bread)Kelle laps, selle nimi (Whose the child, his the name [= The sellerdetermines the price])Kelle leiba ma sn, selle laulu ma laulan (Whose bread I eat,his song I sing)

E9e. Implications with specific He who has... or He who is...-antecedent (Kel..., sel... in Estonian) and their inverseforms (90610):Kel janu, sel jalad (He who is thirsty, has the feet)Kel suur suu, sel lai selg (He who has a big mouth needs a broadback)

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Kel perse sds, kll tuu hindle sanna ktt (He whose arseitches will heat a sauna for himself)Kel krnad, sel kned (He who has scabs has got nails [toscratch] too)Kel jud, sel igus (He who has power is always right)

E9f. Implications with other case forms of the He who... -pattern and inverse structures (1550):Kellele palju antud, sellelt ka palju nutakse (Who has been givena lot, of him a lot is expected)Seda vib naiseks vtta, kellega vaka soola seltsis oled snud(This woman you can marry, together with whom you have eatena bushel of salt)

F. Proverb texts with a parallelist supra-level and an indica-tive baseF1a1. Parallelisms with negative and affirmative forms of

simple sentences contrasted (1802260):Varas jtab varna seina, tuli ei jta sedagi (A thief will leave apeg on the wall, fire wont leave even that much)Ksija suu peale ei lda, aga vtja ke peale lakse (Nobodyhits an asking mouth, but a taking hand will be hit)Suu teeb suure linna, ked ei tee krbse pesagi (Mouth makes abig town, hands dont build a flys nest)nnetus kib inimesi mda, mitte kivi ja kndu mda (Mis-fortune walks from man to man, not on stones or tree-stumps)Sitke kannab siidi, heldel pole helmigi kaelas (A stingy one walksin silk, an open-handed one has not even a necklace)Nina otsa ned, aga ea otsa ei ne (The tip of your nose you cansee, but you cant see the end of your time)Ema pistab rinna suhu, aga ei pista meelt phe (Mother putsthe breast in the mouth, but she doesnt put reason in the head)Vsib andja, ei vsi vastuvtja (A giver may get tired, not thereceiver)

F1a2. Parallelisms containing contrastive simple sentenceswith recurrent elements and/or ellipses (2601970):Koera keele otsas rohi, kassi keele otsas tbi (A dogs tongue car-ries medicine, a cats tongue carries disease)

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Sjal pikk ksi, ljal lhike (An eater has a long hand, a strik-ing hand is short)Omad koerad kisuvad, omad koerad lepivad (Own dogs fight,own dogs make peace)Pua lapsed naeravad, vihma lapsed nutavad (Droughts chil-dren laugh, rains children cry)Kitsi vtab kirstust, helle vtab persest (A miser takes from achest, an open-handed one takes from the arse [i.e. leaves noth-ing in store])Noorel nugise silmad, vanal varese silmad (A young person haseyes like a martens, an old person has eyes like a crows)Noor koer rritab, vana salvab (A young dog growls, an old onebites)Rutaka te rumala, hillukse te ilusa (The work of a headlongperson is unsightly, that of a sedate one is nice)Herits kitt hinnst, h miis teist (A vain man praises himself,a good man praises another)Vikesed vargad ripuvad vllas, suured sidavad tllas (Smallthieves hang on the gallows, big ones ride in chariots)

F1a3. Parallelisms consisting of contrastive simple sen-tences in which all content words are different (1801860):Varane phib nokka, hiline siputab tiibu (An early [bird] wipesits beak, a late one shakes its wings)Tegijal td, magajal und (A busy man has work to do, a sleep-ing man has his sleep)Susi unetas, pini mletas (The wolf forgets, the dog remembers)Sgisel suured smad, kevadel keed magusad (In autumn thereare big feasts, in spring even chaff tastes sweet)Ei upsi uus kuub, vaid tantsib tis kht (A new coat doesntbounce, but a fed stomach can dance)Tsi tuseb, vale vajub (Truth will rise, untruth will sink)Vilets vitsul peksetakse, nnis suul petakse (A miserable one isbirched, a blessed one is taught by words)Minial on mitu viga, mmal ei hda kedagi (A daughter-in-lawhas many faults, theres nothing wrong with a mother-in-law)Rahu kosutab, vaen kaotab (Peace gains, hostility loses)

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F1b1. Parallelisms consisting of synonymous simple sen-tences with recurrent elements and/or ellipses (2401820):Hda ei anna hbeneda, thi kht ei krgistada (In need onecant afford feeling ashamed, a hungry stomach cant afford be-ing haughty [= Necessity knows no law])Ilu ei panda padaje ega kaunist kattelaie (Beauty cant be put inthe pot, fair looks cant be put in the kettle)Kass sb kaua hoietu, peni pikka peetu (Cats will eat what hasbeen kept too long, dogs will eat what has been saved lengthily)Viha vtab vilja maast, kadedus kalad merest (Anger takes cropsfrom the ground, envy takes fish from the sea)Kuri vtab kulbist, paha sna pajast (Spite eats from the scoop,a bad word [eats] from the pot)Mure teeb mustaks, hda halliks (Heartache makes [the face]dark, worry [brings] gray [to the hair])Tuli ei taha tuhnakat tegijt, lats laiska hoitjat (Fire doesntwant a clumsy lighter, or a baby a lazy sitter)Vesine on veliste arm, sklane on ssarde arm (Brothers love iswatery, sisters love is chaffy)Hull kiidab orja td, laisk kiidab lapse td (A crazy one wouldpraise a slaves [or: servants] work, a lazy one would praise achilds work)Sitast ei saa siidi, kanapasast kalevit (Silk cant be made fromshit, or broad cloth from hens droppings)

F1b2. Parallelisms consisting of synonymous simple sen-tences in which all content words are different (1901710):Merel silmad, metsal krvad (The sea has eyes, the forest hasears)Lehm lpsab suust, kana muneb nokast (A cow milks from themouth, a hen lays eggs from the beak)l heksa poega, peval mitu mtet (A night has nine sons, aday has many ideas)Jumalal pevi, peremehel leiba (God will give another day, themaster will give bread)Ega naer nahka riku ega thi jutt tkki vta (Laughter doesnthurt the skin, nor does a rumour bite a piece off you)Sdemest tuli, snast tli (Fire [starts] from a spark, a quarrel[begins] from a word)

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Abi aiast, vari vrgust (Even a fence can help, even a net canoffer a shelter)Viletsal visa hing, nnetu kaua elab (A miserable one is tough, awretched one is hard to die)Jumal krges, kuningas kaugel (God is high above, the King isfar away)Rtsepal ei ole riiet ega kingsepal kinga (A tailor has no clothes,nor a cobbler any shoes)Tehtud leib sakse, kasunud laps leitakse (A baked loaf will beeaten, a grown child will be found)

F1c. Parallelisms consisting of simple sentences in an am-bivalent or problematic ideological relation (1901150):Meest snast, hrga sarvest (A man [is held/known] by his word,an ox by his horn)Sna pistab, sna peastab (A word can stab, a word can save)Vaiv om vanas saia, h om vanan elada (Growing old is hard,but its good to live an old mans life)Ega krts pole prguhaud ega kirik pole taevariik (A pub is nohell, nor is church heaven)Snud hingab, tbine oigab (A fed man breathes [i.e. farts], asick man moans)igus maamehel, igus meremehel (Right the landsman, rightthe seaman)Ori mist orja opata, varas varast nuhelda (A slave [or: servant]knows how to teach a slave, a thief knows how to punish a thief)ks tahab ema, tine ttart (One wants the mother, the otherwants the daughter)Rikkal raha, vaesel latse (A rich man has money, a poor manhas children)

F1d. Parallelled simple sentences in a vague temporal ordegree relation (2601100):ks patt vargal, heksa tagaajajal (A thief has sinned once, thepursuer nine times)Srk on ligi ihu, surm veel ligemal (The shirt is close to theskin, death is closer still)ts kord pett pini luuga, tn krd ei pet lihaga (Once youcan cheat the dog with a bone, but another time you cant cheathim with meat even)

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htu oli viis paari hrgi, homiku ei ole vasikatki (Five pairs ofoxen in the evening, not a calf in the morning)Krdiga ei saa kaugemale kui le aja hpata, pudruga saabommeti teise perese (Gruel wont help you farther than jumpover the fence, porridge will take you to the neighbours houseat least)Rhn on kirev, inimese elu veel kirevam (A woodpecker has manycolours, human life has more colours still)Veri hbib harvast, vesi ei hbi kunagi (Blood clots seldom,water never does)Ida vieb kalad meresta, idakakku kattilasta (East wind takesthe fish from the sea, east-south wind takes them from the pot)Harvast orja kiidetakse, miniat ei millalgi (A slave [or: servant]is seldom praised, never a daughter-in-law)Pisike laps vaeotab plve peal, suur sdame peal (A little childpresses on the knee, a grown child [presses] on the heart)

F1e. Parallelled simple sentences in a calendary relation (70780):Laurits laotab lehti, Prtel prab pid (Lawrence spreads theleaves, Bartholomew turns the heads [of cabbages])Kadri hakkab kusele, aga Andres pistab pulga ette (Catherinebegins pissing, but Andrew stops her with a stick)Parm pask juanipvni, sisk miis mihklipvni (A gadfly isno trouble until St. Johns Day, a gnat is active till Michaelmas)Knnipevaks on virgal maa kntud, aga laisk tstab veel atraaia ple (A hard-working man has finished ploughing byPloughing Day [April 14], when a lazy man is still heaving hisplough onto the fence)

F1f. Simple sentences linked in a parallelism by First..., af-terwards..., First..., then... etc. (3070):Enne t tehakse, prast palk maksetakse (Work before, pay af-ter)Enne meldud, prast tehtud (First thought, then done)Enne mahub pue, prast ei mahu enam ue (In the beginningit fits in the bosom, later it wont fit in the yard)

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F1g. Simple sentences linked in a parallelism with Al-though..., ... (3070):Kahr on kll kuri elli, siski nahk om iks saksa saani pl (Al-though a bear is a wicked animal, his skin can be seen on agentlefolks sleigh)Hanil om kll luine vassar, kll siski ra tund, mis kivi, mistera (Although a goose has a bony hammer, it will tell a stonefrom a grain)

F1h. Parallelisms containing a sequence of more than twosimple sentences (1302060):Aganas on leiva jtku, humalad on lle jtku, vesi on pitka piimajtku, tuhk on tubaka jtku (Chaff is the extension of bread,hops are the extension of ale, water is the extension of milk, ashis tobaccos extension)Mrt mndab, Kadri kaandab, Simun tei silda soie ple,Niklus needab, Toomas tore miis sidab le (Martin wets,Catherine covers, Simon builds a bridge over bogs, Nicholas riv-ets, Thomas, a proud man, rides across)Hommiku hoolekgu, luna leinakgu, htu nnekgu ([Heard]in the morning a cuckoo of charge, in midday a cuckoo ofmourning, in the evening a cuckoo of luck)Trkuja jgu sakse ra, magaja jgu pannakse peaotsi, klas-kija jgu jta jrele (The portion of a reluctant one is eatenup, the portion of a sleeper is put at the bed head, the portion ofthe one away visiting is saved)Jaan viskab esimese jahe kivi vette, Jaak teise ja Mihkel kol-manda (John drops the first cold stone in the water, Jacob dropsthe second and Michael the third)Pllumees pline rikas, ametmees ajuti rikas, kaupmees korratirikas (A farmer is eternally rich, an artisan is rich at times, amerchant is sometimes rich)

F2a. Parallelisms consisting of two simple sentences in theform of an equality (metaphor) or comparison (90460):Rkimine hbe, vaikimine kuld (Talking is silver, silence is gold)Vanatdruk taevatui, vanapoiss on prgunui (A spinster is aheavenly dove, an old bachelor is a hellstick)

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Laenaja on sber, tagasinudja vaenlane (The one who lends isa friend, the one who reclaims is an enemy)Vtad naise, nagu regi pern, saad latse, nagu kivi rii pl (Whenyou marry a woman you feel a sledge behind you, when a childis born, you feel a stone on the sledge)Vask vaese kuld, tina kehva hbe (Copper is a poor mans gold,tin is a wretched mans silver)Vilk vihmavari, tomp tuulevari (A burl protects from rain, a burlprotects from wind)

F2b. A parallelist sequence consisting of more than two com-parative (simple) sentences (1560):Hundile one udu ono, vihim veli ja kaste kaalalikaja (For awolf fog is an uncle, rain is a brother, and dew is a throat-cut-ter)

F3. Parallelisms consisting of two inequalities (22):Mtsa varjun parep ku lehe varjun, mehe varjun parep ku mtsavarjun (A forest shades better than a leaf, a husband shadesbetter than a forest)

F4a. Parallelisms of two elliptical implications (60230):Klmad julud, soojad lihavtted, rohelised julud, valgedlihavtted (Frosty Christmas a warm Easter, a green Christ-mas a white Easter)Virgad vanemad, laisad lapsed, laisad vanemad, virgad lapsed(Hardworking parents lazy children, lazy parents hardwork-ing children)Pisikesed lapsed, pisike mure, suured lapsed, suured mured (Lit-tle children little worry, grown children big worries)Suur jalg, suured saapad, suur ksi, suured kindad (A big foot big boots, a big hand big mittens)

F4b1. Parallelisms consisting of two or more implicationswith an If..., then...- or When..., then... -formula (80460):Kui kgu tuleb vitsa, siis vilja, kui urba, siis ohtu, kui lehte, siisleiba (If a cuckoo alights on a bare tree, therell be good crops, ifon a tree with catkins, therell be awns, if on a leafy tree, therellbe enough bread)

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Kui luiged madalalt lendavad, siis tuleb madal talv, kui luigedkrgelt lendavad, siis tuleb sgav talv (If swans fly low, therellbe a shallow winter, if swans fly high, therell be a deep winter)Kui otsas, siis hooleta, kui vatsas, siis vaevata (When finished,theres no worry, when [the food is] inside, theres no trouble)Kui ligi, siis puskab, kui kaugel, siis ammub (When close, it willbutt, when at distance, it will bellow)

F4b2. Parallelisms consisting of two or more inverse impli-cations with (Then)..., when... (1040):Mees ngusam, kui piip suus, naine ngusam, kui laps sles (Aman looks better when with a pipe, a woman is more beautifulwith a child on her knees)Kullake, kui annad, kurivaim, kui nuad (A dear friend whengiving, a damned nuisance when reclaiming)

F4c.Two parallel implications with ..., until... (12):Nikka ikk kui ett, nikka plv kui pimu (There is life untilthere is grain to be cut, there is age until there is crop to beharvested)

F4d. Two parallel implications with Where..., there... (1040):Kus silm, seal klm, kus slm, seal soe (Where theres a loop, itscold, where theres a burl, its warm)Kus haige on, seal on ksi, kus arm on, seal on silm (Where ithurts the hand will go, where theres a love the eye will go)

F4e. Two parallel implications with As..., so..., Which..., such...etc. (1050):Kuidas tibu, nnda tervis, kuidas arst, nnda abi (Like penny,like health, like doctor, like help)Nii kui elu, nii om ehte, nii kui rm, nii om riva (Like life, likeornaments, like joy, like robe)

F4f. Two parallel implications with The ...-er, the ...-er (11):Mida targem rahvas, seda rikkamad, mida rumalamad, sedavaesemad (The cleverer people, the richer, the dumber, thepoorer)

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F4g. Two parallel implications with What..., (that) ... etc.(Mis..., see... in Estonian) or their inverse patterns (30230):Mis kallis, see kaunis, mis odav, see mda (What is expensive isbeautiful, what is cheap is rotten)Tunnukse ikka, mis vee veeretud, ei tunta saia sdud (Its al-ways clear who [literally: what] has grown on water, its notclear who has eaten whitebread)

F4h1. Two parallel implications with He who..., ... or a paral-lelism consisting of two inverse implications with Its...,who... (45610):Kes kooleb, sii kodu lb, kes elab, sii ette puutub (He who dieswill go home, he who lives will be encountered)Kes teeb, see saab, kel ple teha, sel ple saada (He who workswill get something, he who has nothing to do, has nothing toget)Hea laps, kes hsti tantsib, parem laps, kes paegal seisab (A fairchild who dances well, a better child who stands still)Narr, kes Narvast naise vtab, loll, kes linnast lehma ostab (Itsa fool who marries a wife from Narva, its a dunce who buys acow in town)

F4h2. Two parallel implications with Kel..., sel... (= He whohas... or He who is...) or their inverse forms (15150):Kel vgi, sel vimus, kel kukkur, sel kohus (He who has force haspower, he who has a [big] purse has justice [on his side])Ega see pole rikas, kel palju on, vaid see on rikas, kes omagarahul on (Not he is rich who has much, but he is rich whoscontented with what he has)

F4i. A sequence consisting of three or more parallel impli-cations (20380):Kured lhvad kurjad ilmad, haned lhvad hall taga, luigedlhvad lumi taga (Cranes going bad weather, geese going hoarfrost coming, swans going snow on the ground)Keda vahites, toda kahites, keda naaretes, toda haaretes, kedaotsites, toda trotsites (He whos stared at is envied, he whoslaughed at is seized, he whose company is sought is defied)

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G. Imperative sentencesG1. Sentences that are imperative in content, but indica-tive or elliptic in formG1a1. Indicative instructions and standards in the form of

simple sentences with should, must, has (got) to etc. (40230):Tnisepevast pidi pool loomatoitu alles olema (On St. Antho-nys Day half the fodder had still to be there)Varust peab koera lma (A dog should be beaten just in case)Ksku peab igaks titma (An order is for everyone to obey)

G1a2. Indicative prohibitions and warnings with shouldnt,mustnt etc. (3050):Ei vi kiki he paela peale panna (You cant string everythingon one thread [i.e. equalize])Narriga ei maksa vaielda (It doesnt pay to argue with a fool)Htegu ei tohi unustada (A good deed mustnt be forgotten)

G1b1. Orders and recommendations in the form A must bedone because... ~otherwise B will happen etc. (510):Kopikas peab taskus olema, muidu koerad kusevad peale (Thereshould always be a copeck in the pocket, otherwise dogs willpiss on you)Las vares vaagub, kll ta vakka jb (Let the crow croak, itwont do it forever)

G1b2. Prohibitions and warnings in the form A mustnt bedone because... ~otherwise B will happen etc. (810):Surnu suu ple ei ksta kohut mista: patutse oleme keik (Oneshouldnt condemn a dead mans words we are all sinful)Jaanile ei tohi snnikuhaisu ninasse lasta, siis ei kasva h rukis(John shouldnt be let to smell manure, otherwise rye wont growgood grain)

G1c1. Implications with If / When..., (then)..., the consequentmember of which is an order or recommendation withpeab (= should), or the consequent member is a prohibi-tion or warning with mustnt, shouldnt etc., or their in-verse forms (50120):Kui tahad targaks saada, siis pead ppima (If you want to be-come wise, you should study)

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Kui vanad rgivad, peavad lapsed vaid olema (When adultsare talking, children should be quiet)Kui kala ei ole, piab konn mrda minema (If theres no fish, afrog has to be trapped)Kui ei vi parata, siis peab laskma karata (If you cant help it,let him buck)Ei massa sis enap vrrit kinni panda, ku hobn om ussajastvll joosnu (Its not worthwhile closing the gate, when the horsehas run out of the yard)Kui sa annad, siis su pahem ksi ei pea teadma, mis parem ksiteeb (When you give, your left hand shouldnt know what yourright hand is doing)Ega siis ei saa nam koera sta, ku varas juba ues on (Youshouldnt feed the dog when the thief is already in the yard)

G1c2. Implications of the form He who..., ..., the consequentmember of which is an order or recommendation withmust, has (got) to etc., or an interdiction with shouldnt,mustnt etc. (30200):Kes huntide hulgas on, peab nendega uluma (He who is amongwolves has got to howl together with them)Kes ei taha td teha, see ei pea ka sma (He who doesnt wantto work, shouldnt eat either)Kes kuulda ei taha, piab tundma (He who doesnt want to lis-ten, must feel)Kes algab, peab lpetama (He who makes a start has got to fin-ish)

G1d. Imperatives with should, mustnt etc., that contain someparallel (contrasted or synonymous) components (3590):Tdrukust ja hernest ei vi kunagi ilma pudumata mda minna(Neither a girl nor a pea plant can ever be passed by withoutlaying hands on them)Vanna vit naarda, a hdlist naargu-ui, vanast ltt egts (Youmay laugh at an old person, but not at a sick one, everyone willget old once)Silmaga vib kll vaadata, kega ei vi mitte keiki katsuda (Youcan use your eyes, but you cannot use your hands on every thing)Elu peab elama, ussi peab tapma (Life has to be lived, a snakehas to be killed)

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Snal peab slm ja jutul jakk olema (A word should have a knoton it and a story should have a continuation)

G1e1. Various non-parallelist elliptic structures that areindicative in form, but imperative in contents (10180):Mees mehe vasta (Man for man)Kirik keset kla (A church [shold be built] in the centre of avillage [about compromises])Vorst vorsti vastu (A sausage for a sausage)Magajalle piaalust ([Something to be put] under the head of thesleeper)

G1e2. Two parallel ellipses, that by content are orders orrules (60450):Rg tuhka, tug mutta (Winter rye [should be sown] to ashes[i.e. dry soil], spring cereal to mud)Noorelkuul nurme, vanalkuul varju (By new moon [sheep shouldbe shorn] in the open, by old moon in the shade)Kanadega magama, sigadega les (To bed with hens, up withhogs)Silm silma vastu, hammas hamba vastu (An eye for an eye, atooth for a tooth)Haigele arsti, tervele vorsti (A doctor for the sick man, some sau-sage for the healthy one)

G2. 3rd person imperativesG2a. Hyperbolic a.o. texts in the form Let there be A or B...

or Even if..., still... or ..., if only... (30170):Olgu isa sikk vi ema kits, kui aga ise mees olen (Let the fatherbe a billy-goat or the mother a nanny-goat, the main thing isthat Im a real man)Olgu sant vi vigane, pasi et on isane (Let him be defective ordisabled, the main thing is hes a male)Ega pini ilma ei haugu, olgu susi ehk trvaskand (A dog wontbark in vain, be it at a wolf or a pitch stump)Olgu aed nii suur kui ta on, mulk ikka ks (No matter how largethe pen may be, a gate is a gate)Olgu poiss kolmest kohast lesidemega kinni, ikka saab naise(Even if a boy is bandaged with straw in three places, he willhave a wife)

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G2b. Optative sentences beginning with God forbid, Godgrant etc. (2080):Jumal hoia mind sbra eest, vaenlase eest ma hoian ennast ise(God protect me from a friend, from the enemy Ill protect memyself)Jumal lasku savge ikka kuulda, ei elades nha (God let ushear the army, never see it)Jumal hoidku hda iist, risti ja viletsust isegi kll (God save usfrom trouble, theres misery and woe enough as it is)Jumal hoidku selle eest, ku orjast otsaline saab (God forbid aslave [or: servant] from becoming a master)Jumal andku ikka anda, aga mitte otsi (God grant us the role ofa giver, not of the one who begs)

G2c. Simple sentences with a 3rd person gu-, ku-imperative(3070):Kingsepp jgu oma liistude juurde (A cobbler should stick tohis lasts)Igaks kratsigu ise oma krnad (Every man should scratch hisown scabs)igus olgu igahele (Justice should be for everyone)Igaks phkigu oma ukseesist (Everyone should sweep beforehis own door)

G2d. gu-, ku-imperatives in the form of an inequality (22):Tagumised vravad olgu ikka vhemad kui esimesed (The backgates should always be narrower than the front ones [about spar-ing])

G2e1. Implications with If / When..., let... ~(someone) should(not)... etc. or an ellipsis (gu-, ku-imperatives in Estonian)(20190):Kui kaks knelevad, pistku kolmas nna v vahele (When twoare talking, the third should stick his nose in the belt [i.e. keepaside])Latsele lauldas, mrsja mistku (A child is sung to, a bride shouldunderstand)Kui on phad, siis olgu phad (Once a feast, lets feast)Kui on linud trumm, siis mingu ka pulgad (Once the drum isgone, let the sticks go as well)

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G2e2. Implications with He who... should (not)... etc. or withan ellipsis (gu-, ku-imperatives in Estonian) (1550):Kes on pandud orjama, see orjaku hea meelega (He who has gotto slave, ought to slave with delight)Kes koore plt sb, see sgu ka sisu (He who eats the crust,should eat the crumb too)Kes parem mistab, see parem tehku (He who knows better,should do better)

G2e3. Other implications with ... should (not) do... etc. in theconsequent member (gu-, ku-imperatives in Estonian) (350):Mida parem on hobune, seda parem olgu piits (The better thehorse, the better the whip should be)

G2f1. Texts with one verb on -gu, -ku linking at least two(contrasting or synonymous) components (1530):Silmad olgu ikka ees ja taga (One should always have eyes bothin front and at the back)Ttrlats pidgu suu, ke ja perse (A girl should hold her mouth,hands and arse)Mldri matt ja krtsi mt olgu maksetud (A millers toll and atavern measure should be paid)

G2f2. Fully parallelist texts with imperatives on -gu, -ku (2060):Muu puu muhaku, lepa leht lehaku, ttarlats olke vaik (Othertrees may sough, an alder leaf may murmur, a girl should bequiet)Soe olgu sn, lamba olgu alale (Wolves should be fed, but thesheep should survive)Hull vib olla lle tegija, aga tark olgu linnase tegija (Ale can bemade by a crazy man, but malt should be made by a clever man)

G3. You-imperativesG3a1. Orders and recommendations in the form of an im-

perative simple sentence (30250):Sea suu sekki mda (Adjust your mouth by the wallet [liter-ally: sack])

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Pea pool suud kinni (Hold half of your mouth shut)Naist kiida aasta prast (Praise your wife in a years time [ear-lier it is not sure if she deserves it])Anna aega atra seada (Allow [them/us] some time to get theplough ready)Jta viimane hoop lmata (Save the last blow)

G3a2. Prohibitions and warnings in the form of an impera-tive simple sentence (100660):ra hiska enne htut (Dont jubilate before the day is done)Tnasida toimetusi ra viska homse varna (Dont hang todayswork on the tomorrows peg)ra kiida ilma enne htut (Dont praise weather before evening)ra htast aset kiida (Dont praise your bed in the evening)ra plga esimest nne ial ra (Dont you ever disdain your firsthappy chance)ra pista pead tulle (Dont put your head in the fire)ra maksa kurja kurjaga (Dont pay an evil deed back with anevil deed)

G3b. Preferences a.o. inequalities containing an imperativeverb form (1540):Parem kae sittuja silmi kui puuraiuja silmi (You better look inthe eyes of a shitting man than in the eyes of a woodcutter [it isdangerous to stand near the woodcutter because you can be hitby woodchips])Parem vta sammu pealt kopik kui versta pealt rubla (You bet-ter take a copeck for a pace than a rouble for a verst)Paremb korja munakoor sisse kui lehma nissa (You better col-lect in an eggshell than in a cows teat)

G3c1. Orders and recommendations in the form Do A, be-cause B... ~otherwise B will happen etc., or prohibitionsand warnings in the form Dont do A, because B... ~other-wise B will happen etc. (55320):Vta naene naabritalust, teda tunned ksist-jalust (Marry a girlfrom the neighbouring hut, for her you know by hand and foot)Hoidke omad mokad lukku, muidu lennab krbes kurku (Keepyour lips locked, or a fly will get down your throat)

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le oma snale peremees, muidu saab sna sulle peremeheks(Be a master of your word, otherwise your word will be yourmaster)ra usu ilma, ilm ajab puru silma (Dont believe the world, theworld will throw dust in your eyes)ra sitta puudu, sitt hakkab haisema (Dont touch shit, shit willstink)ra usu hundi juttu, hundil on need hullud jutud (Dont believea wolf s story, a wolf s stories are wicked)ra narri koera, koer salvab (Dont tease a dog, a dog will bite)

G3c2. Orders and recommendations in the form Do A, thenyoull get / preserve B, or prohibitions and warnings ofthe form Dont do A, then youll avoid B (60260):Hoia ise, siis hoiab ka Jumal (Take care of yourself, then Godwill take care of you too)Tee td higiga, siis sd leiba himuga (You work with sweat[on your back], then youll eat with appetite)Pea suu kinni, seisab selg terve (Keep your mouth shut, thenyour back will remain intact)Korja igel ajal, siis on sul hda ajal (Save in the right time,then youll have something in hard times)ra tee teisele head, siis ei snni sulle kurja (Dont do favours,then nothing bad will happen to you)ra ennast liiga kiida, siis sind keegi ka ei laida (Dont praiseyourself too much, then nobody will find fault with you either)

G3d1. Implications of the form If / When..., then... or of theinverse form, the consequent member of which is an or-der or recommendation in the imperative form, also im-plications with If / When..., dont..., Dont... before... or theinverse form, the consequent member of which is a pro-hibition or warning in the imperative form (1701150):Pista prsas kotti, kui pakutakse (Put the piglet in the bag whenoffered)Tao rauda, kui raud kuum on (Work the iron when its hot)Paranda, kui paras aeg on (Mend when the time is right)Kui midagi teed, tee hsti (Whenever you do anything, do it well)Kui sna ei aita, siis lase ksi kia (If a word isnt enough, usethe hand)

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ra enne vana kaevu tis aja, kui uus valmis ei ole (Dont fill anold well before the new one is ready)ra sda siis koera, kui hunt karjas on (Dont feed the dog whena wolf is at the cattle)ra m enne karu nahka ku karu kes (Dont sell a bears skinbefore the bear is caught)Kui katel keeb, ra sa enam tuld alla ajag (When the kettle isboiling, dont keep feeding the fire)

G3d2. Implications of other forms, the consequent memberof which is a prohibition or order in the imperative form(1550):ra lkka homse peale, mis sa tna vid teha (Dont put off tilltomorrow what you can do today)ra sinna tuld tee, kus keige suurem vesi (Dont make fire wheretheres most water)Pane aga pauna, mis pakutakse (Put in the pouch what is of-fered)

G3e1. Sentences with parallel (contrasting, synonymous etc.)components containing a verb in the imperative (2090):Kolm asja sisse ra usu kunagi: thja huunt, mtsa ja makajat(Never trust these three things: an empty building, the forestand a sleeping person)Lapsele anna hirmu ja armu (Give a child birch as well as love)ra usu suure saksa suud ja pisukese lapse perset (Dont trust abig nobs mouth or a little childs bottom)Avida menejat mrsjat ja asujat majja (Help a leaving brideand a newcomer in the house)

G3e2. Parallelisms consisting of two simple sentences con-veying an order or recommendation / a prohibition orwarning in the imperative form (130920):Rikkast perest osta hobune, vaesest vallast vta naene (Buy ahorse from a wealthy farm, marry a wife from a poor parish)Tee td t ajal, aja juttu jutu ajal (Work at working time, talkat talking time)Halli pead austa, kulupead kummarda (Honour a grey head,bow to a bald head)Ela ise ja lase teisi ka elada (Live and let others live)

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heksa korda mda, ks kord lika (Measure nine times, cutonce)Anna antust, murra murtust (Give of what has been given toyou, break from what has been broken for you)Vta pits ja pea aru (Take a drop but be moderate)Tee td ja palu Jumalat (Work and pray)Vrast ra vta, oma ra jta (Dont take whats someone elses,dont give up whats yours)Kanget hvrdamist r pelga, suurt lubamist r looda (Dontbe scared by loud threats, dont hope much of big promises)ra usu uisu juttu ega pea poisi pettu (Dont believe a snakesword, dont trust a boys tricks)

G3e3. Parallelisms consisting of two contrasting simple sen-tences, one of which communicates an order, the other aprohibition (80720):Narri meest, ra narri mehe mtsi (Gibe a man, not a manscap)Vta vana sna, aga ra s vana osa (Take an old persons word,dont eat an old persons portion)ra kiida iseennast, lase teised kiita (Dont praise yourself, letothers do it)Rgi meest, aga ra nimeta meest (Speak of a man, but dontuse his name [i.e. speak allusively])ra kiitle kinda sees, tule seisa meeste ees (Dont you boast [withyour hand] in a glove, come out and stand up before men)

G3e4. Parallel sequences consisting of three or more impera-tive simple sentences (20100):N palju, kuule palju, ra palju pajada (See a lot, hear a lot,dont say a lot)Tii esi, thuta tist, astu esi, aja muid (Work yourself, encour-age others, go your way, drive others on)Unusta uni, mleta mlu, pea noor mees meeles (Forget sleep,remember what happened, keep the young man on your mind)ra pilka vigast, ra plga vaest ega narri ntra (Dont mock ata cripple, dont scorn a poor man or fool a feeble one)

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G3e5. Parallel imperative components of a compound sen-tence with First..., then... etc. (30280):Enne mtle, siis tle (First think, then say)Phi enne oma ukseedine puhtaks, siis mine teistel phkima(First sweep in front of your own door, then go sweeping beforethe others)Enne mune, siis kaaguta (First lay an egg, then cackle)Tee enne, kiida prast (First do, then boast)

G3f1. Texts of the form Do / Dont do A, because... or other-wise B will happen, with a parallelist initial componentin the imperative form (25150):Tee td ja ne vaeva, siis saad taeva (Toil and moil, then youllget to heaven)Vaata ette, vaata taha, muidu jd sa ajast maha (Look out,look back, otherwise youll fall behind the times)Pea ennast kolmest kinni: ked suu ja perse, siis saad ilmasthsti lbi (Keep yourself bound in three places hands, mouthand arse, then youll get on well in the world)

G3f2. Patterns consisting of two or more parallel implica-tions with If / When A, then do B or If / When A, dont do Band an imperative verb (50400):Kui mees on hea, pista tal ks silm ra, kui paha, kaks silma (Ifyour husband is good, stab one eye out of him, if bad, stab twoeyes [about sharing secrets, making expenses etc.])Lheb jahimees metsa, pane pada kummuli, lheb kalameeskalale, pane pada tulele (When a hunter goes to the forest, turnthe kettle upside down, when a fisher goes fishing, put the ket-tle on)Kui kuuled, ra pane kuulvas, kui ned, ra pane ngevas (Ifyou hear, dont show youve heard, if you see, dont show youveseen)Oled vaene, siis ole vaiki, oled pert, sis pia suu (If youre poor,keep quiet, if you are necessitous, just hold your mouth)

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G3f3. Various complex sentences containing imperatives (40150):Mis sa tahad, et teised peavad sinule tegema, sedasama tee sinaka teistele (What you want to be done unto you, you do untoothers too)Varasta, aga mitte nnda, et les tuleb (Steal, but dont be caught)Kott olgu ikka enesest, saagu prss kust saa (Your bag shouldalways be ready, whence ever the piglet)

G4. Rhetorical ordersG4a. Rhetorical orders in the form of simple sentences (20

130):Paku pagarilapsele saia (Just go and offer whitebread to a bak-ers child)Vta vhilt villu (Just go and take fleece from a crayfish)Mine nd vasikaga vidu jooksma (Just go racing a calf)Mine hundi suust tagasi vtma (Just go taking anything backfrom a wolf s mouth)

G4b1. Rhetorical orders with a consequent on see if, ask ifetc. (56):Anna aith kassi ehk koera ktte, katsu, kas elab sellega (Justyou give thank you to a cat or dog, see if it will live on it)Ksi kassilt, kas tal kisi on (Just ask a cat whether it has claws)

G4b2. Rhetorical orders followed by a member with andyet etc. (implying uselessness) (2050):Sda hunti, hunt vaatab ikka metsa poole (Just feed a wolf the wolf will keep his eyes on the forest)Poe kll raudphkle sisse, aga Jumal nb sind sinnagi (Justhide in an iron nutshell, God will see you even there)Viska koerale kont suhu, hakkab ommeti prast jlle urisema(You throw a bone in a dogs mouth, yet it will growl again later)

G4b3. Rhetorical orders followed by a forecast of bad con-sequences (501350):Lase sant sauna, sant tahab lavale ka (Just you let a beggar inthe sauna the beggar will want to get to the platform as well)

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Narri pldu ks kord, pld narrib sind heksa korda (You de-ceive the field once, the field will deceive you nine times)Anna perse klasse, siis situ ise lbi kljeluie (Lend your arse tothe village, then youll have to shit through the ribs)Anna pill hullu ktte, hull ajab pilli lhki (Just you give aninstrument to a madman the madman will blow the thing asun-der)

G4c. A rhetorical order as the consequent member of an If /When..., then... -implication (1020):Kui nlg ks, siis pane hambad varna (When hungers there,just hang your teeth on a peg)Kuera ei ole haugu ise (No dog do the barking yourself)Mine siis viil laeva ehitama, kui uputus kes (Just go and startbuilding a ship when theres flood)

G4d1. Parallelist equalities with an or-copula, consisting oftwo rhetorical questions (15250):Mine vihata sauna ehk rahata linna (Just you go to the saunawithout a bath-whisk or to town without money on you)Tee tigedale head ehk kaitse khna karja (Just you do a goodturn to an evil man, or guard the cattle of a wicked one)L koera ehk silita koera (Beat a dog or stroke a dog [its thesame thing])Mine surnut arstima vi tarka petama (Just you go doctoring adead man or teaching a clever man)

G4d2. Two parallelled (contrasting or synonymous) rhetori-cal orders, followed by a component with and yet etc.,implying uselessness (15200):Mine suurt saama, jmedad jgama, viimaks peenike pihus (Justyou go after something big, after a bulky share in the endyoull find yourself in trouble [literally: holding a thin end])Saada siga Saksamaale, pese siga seebiga, siga tuleb koju, sigajb seaks (Just you send a pig to Germany, wash a pig withsoap the pig will come home, the pig will remain a pig)Keed sitta, kdst sitta, sitt jb ikki sitas (Cook shit, bakeshit shit will remain shit)

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H. Rhetorical questionsH1. Rhetorical questions on who (100900):

Kes koera saba kergitab, kui ta ise (Who else will raise a dogstail but itself?)Kes virga vilja ra sb, kui laisku maa peal ei ole (Who wouldeat the busy mans crops, if there were no lazy people on theearth?)Kes ilma suu kinni paneb (Who could close the worlds mouth?)Kes kitsi karjaelajaks arvab (Who would count goats among cat-tle?)Kes kassile kala annab (Who would feed a cat on fish?)Kes vib santi sundida, kui sant ei taha kndida (Who can makea cripple walk if the cripple doesnt want to?)Kes hn oonde td, kui ei tikuta (Who would find a woodpeck-ers hollow if it didnt give a sound?)

H2. Texts beginning with a rhetorical what-question (110560):Mis sest kasu, kui lehm palju piima annab, aga jalaga mberlb (Whats the use of a cow milking well, but knocking thepail over?)Mis lind see on, kes oma sulgi ei jua kanda (What bird cantcarry its own feathers)Mis seda sitta rattile sda, mis rattil ei saisa (Whats the use offilling the cart with such manure that doesnt keep on the cart?)Mes see ute huikamine, kui see pssi pd ei pra (Whats theuse of a ewes call, if the ram doesnt turn its head?)

H3. Rhetorical questions on where, where to or where from(30190):Kuhu sitt rattast jb (Where does manure go from a cart? [Suresomething will stick])Kus Must muu jtt (Where will Must [a black dog] leave itsways?)Kus muldine lumi on (Wheres last years snow?)Kust rikas raha saab (Where does a rich man get his moneyfrom?)

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H4. Rhetorical questions on when (2040):Kunas sepal vist om ehk kingsepal korraline saabas (Will ablacksmith ever have a knife or a cobbler wear good boots?)Millal hrjl enne vasik oo old (When has a bull ever had a calfbefore?)Millal must koer valgeks lheb (When will a black dog turnwhite?)

H5. Texts beginning with rhetorical questions on how longand how far (20150):Kui kaua koera kaelas vorst seisab (How long will a sausagehang on a dogs neck?)Kaua vasikas palvetega elab (How long will a calf live onprayers?)Kauaks kala kassi ees (How long will fish keep before a cat?)Kaua naaskel kottis seisab (How long will a bodkin keep in abag?)Kaugele lind he tiivaga linnub (How far will a bird fly on onewing?)

H6. Rhetorical questions on why (760):Misprast siis sepp ked tulle pistab, kui pihid ees on (Whyshould a blacksmith stick his hands in fire, when the tongs arethere?)Misprast kuer leiba seb, kui ta ei haugu (Why does the dogeat bread if it doesnt bark?)

H7. Texts beginning with a rhetorical general question (kasin Estonian) (1010):Kas jutumal vara on (Has a poor man any property?)Kas kodul ratta all om vi (Does a home have wheels?)Kas keedet pada smld jse (Will cooked food ever remainuneaten?)

H8. Rhetorical texts beginning with how much, how many(840):Palju patuselle tarvis on, pista srmega silma sda tis (Howmuch can a sinful man take just poke a finger in his eye andhes raving mad)

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Metuks mullale vaja (How much does an old person need?)

H9. Texts beginning with a rhetorical question on eks (26):Eks naer tule ikka nuttes koju (Well, wont laughter come homeweeping?)

H10. Texts beginning with a rhetorical question on vi (1070):Vi taud thjast toast midagi vtab (Do you think the plaguewould take something from an empty room?)Vi siga tb, mis raba on (Do you think a pig would know whatdraff is?)Vi Kirep killan seisp (Do you think Kirep [a spotted dog] wouldstay in a pack?)

H11. Elliptic patterns that can be interpreted as rhetoricalquestions (45):Hd hlgel vees (Whats wrong with a seal in water?)Vigaks suure kivi taga hisata (Do you think its hard to cheerbehind a big boulder?)

H12. Rhetorical questions in sentences containing variousparallel components (60510):Kes vaest varrule kutsub vi puujalga pulma (Who would ask apoor man to the christening feast or a timbertoes to wedding?)Kus koeral kodu vi hundil maja (Wheres there a dogs houseor a wolf s lodging?)Kunas koke kulp isune vai taaripulk janune (When is a cocksladle hungry or the stopper of a beer keg thirsty?)Kes kassi prast lheb randa ehk kitse prast lakka (Whod goto the seashore for a cat or to the loft for a goat?)Kohes kirep killast vai must peni hattsajast j (Do you thinkSpot would stray from a pack or a black dog would miss a rut-ting season?)Kes kodu musta vai teo laiska kaes (Who would notice dirt athome or lazyness at compulsory service?)Kauas lhike laul laulet vi vaese heng vet (Do you think ashort song or a poor mans soul would last long?)

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I. Exceptional formsI1. If-repartees (oleks in Estonian) in the form of an impli-

cation, in the past form etc. (60240):Oleks on paha poiss (If is a bad boy)Oleks seal kned, ta lheks puu otsa (If a pig had nails, it wouldclimb a tree)Oleks tdil till, oleks onu (If auntie had a wee-wee, she would beuncle)Oleks see koer mitte sitale linud, ta oleks jnese ktte saanud(If the dog hadnt gone to shit, it would sure have caught thehare)Oleks uppus Jamburi jkke (If got drowned in the Jamburriver)Oleks ja peaks on vennad (If and should are brothers)

I2. Texts in the form Not all A are B etc. perceivable as par-tial negation (20160):[ See also D. Meshers opinion:http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/graphics/claims/univer.html ]Kik ei ole kuld, mis hiilgab (All that glitters is not gold)Iga punane mari ei ole mitte maasikas (Every red berry is not astrawberry)Kik ei ole hpe, mis lgs (Not all is silver that shimmers)Iga kana, kes kaagutab, ei mune (Every cackling hen doesnt layeggs)Ei ole kik mesi, mis tilgub, ega kik tuli, mis vlgub (Not all ishoney that trickles, nor is all fire that flickers)

I3. Didactic monologues (100340):Vaskuss oli pidan tlema, et kui tal silmad oleks, siis ta panekshe ga heksa pere uksed kinni (A blindworm is told to havesaid that if it had eyes to see, it would close the doors of ninefarms [killing the people] in one night)Kala telnud: Jumal hoidku mind leliia vaese vi rikka kttesattumast: rikas nlib naha seljast, vaene silmad peast (A fishis told to have said: God forbid me be caught by a too poor or atoo rich man: a rich man would flay me, a poor man would eatout my eyes)

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Paastukuu telnud knlakuule: Oleks mina sinust olema, mavtaks kik pnnpead prandale, naese ked leevaastja ja koeraksed knnisele, aga ma ei saa, mu teine silm jookseb vett(March is told to have said to February: If I were you I wouldfreeze all nippers on the floor [inside], a womans hands in thedough and a dogs claws on the threshold, but I cant one of myeyes is dripping)Ti telnud: Kurika all kuulan, pajas paisun, aga saanaleinon hingevtja (A louse is told to have said: Under the beetle Ilisten, in the kettle I bloat, but sauna steam is lethal to me)Kaer telnud peremehele klviaegas: Oleks sa mind sinna muapeale klvaks, kus odra klvad, ma paneks sulle kalevipksidkohe jalga (Oats are told to have said to the farmer at sowingtime: If you sowed me where you sow barley, I would dress youin broadcloth trousers at once)

As the reader has surely noticed, such traveling from one syntac-tic-modal clich to another as well as to and fro between the syn-tactic-modal and other structural levels of proverbs can take us toextremely complicated and intriguing relations and regularities,which certainly deserve a separate analysis to come.

Translated by Sirje Ainsaar

References

Eesti vanasnad. Ed. by A. Krikmann & I. Sarv. Comp. byA. Hussar, A. Krikmann, E. Normann, V. Pino, I. Sarv, R. Saukas.Vol. IV:2. Tallinn, 19801988.

Vanasnaraamat. Comp. by A.Hussar, A.Krikmann, I.Sarv.Tallinn, 1984.

[ See also E-versions of Vanasnaraamat in Estonianhttp://haldjas.folklore.ee/~kriku/VSR/FRAMEST.HTM and Germanhttp://haldjas.folklore.ee/~kriku/VSR/FRAMEGER.HTM ]Krikmann, A. 1984. 1001 Frage zur logischen Struktur der

Sprichwrter. Semiotische Studien zum Sprichwort. Simple FormsReconsidered I. Special Issue of Kodikas/Code Ars Semeiotica.An International Journal of Semiotics. Vol. 7, No. 3/4, pp. 387408.

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Krikmann, A. 1987. 1001 ksimust vanasnade loogilise struk-tuuri kohta. Dialoogi mudelid ja eesti keel. TR toimetised, nr 795.Tartu, pp. 120150.

Lakoff, G. 1987. Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things. Chicago,1987.