saying
Let an agent explain sayings, relay kinds, cultural roles and study from folklore and linguistics sources, describe the named forms and flag the collection alias, check attributions, and distinguish sayings from quotations with known authors, idioms as non-literal phrases, slogans and catchphrases.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain sayings, relay kinds, cultural roles and study from folklore and linguistics sources, describe the named forms and flag the collection alias, check attributions, and distinguish sayings from quotations with known authors, idioms as non-literal phrases, slogans and catchphrases.
A short, commonly repeated expression that conveys an idea, observation or piece of advice, a broad category including proverbs, aphorisms, maxims, adages and idioms, with forms the registry aliases name such as the gnome, a short pithy statement of general truth in classical and wisdom literature, the Mahavakyas, the great sayings of the Upanishads such as Tat Tvam Asi, parting phrases such as farewells, anti-proverbs that twist familiar proverbs for humour, aphorisms and proverbs as a paired topic, and Putinisms, a collection of phrases associated with Vladimir Putin, which is a specific group rather than a kind and is presented neutrally. Sayings are studied in paremiology and folklore, and attributions of famous sayings are often mistaken, so sources are checked.
What it is for: Conveying shared wisdom, humour and social ritual.
It can be explain kinds; relay cultural roles; describe named forms; check attributions.
Distinguishing features
Short and memorable
Often anonymous
Culturally transmitted
Attribution errors common
What it looks like
Not a physical object; spoken or written short expressions.
Physical character
paremiology: study of proverbs note
Mahavakyas: 4 principal great sayings count - traditional list
Erasmus Adagia: first edition 1500 note
How it is recognised
Short commonly repeated expression
Putinisms, gnome, Mahavakyas, parting phrase, anti-proverb, aphorisms and proverbs
Quotations have known authors; idioms have non-literal meanings; slogans promote causes; catchphrases belong to characters or people
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
includes -
includes -
is contrasted with -
In practice
Families and kinds
proverbs
aphorisms and maxims
gnomic sayings
anti-proverbs
formulaic farewells and greetings
Standards and regulation
Not applicable
Failure modes and hazards
Misattributed quotations
Partisan framing of political phrase collections
Stereotyping cultures through proverbs
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.saying
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What a saying is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a saying, and how does it differ from quotations, idioms, slogans and catchphrases? definition
- Is the question about the origin or author of a specific saying, which needs source checking? boundary
Forms
Named forms.
Forms
Forms.
- What are gnomes, Mahavakyas, parting phrases, anti-proverbs and Putinisms? definition
- Which entry fits the specific saying? action
Study Paremiology.
Sources.
Proverbs
Proverb studies.
Proverbs
Proverbs.
- How do paremiologists such as Wolfgang Mieder define and collect proverbs? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Anti-proverbs
Anti-proverbs.
Anti-proverbs
Anti-proverbs.
- How do anti-proverbs play with familiar sayings? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Traditions Traditions.
Attribution.
Mahavakyas
Upanishadic sayings.
Mahavakyas
Mahavakyas.
- How do Vedanta schools interpret the Mahavakyas, with views attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral and attributed? boundary
Wisdom literature
Gnomic literature.
Wisdom literature
Wisdom literature.
- How were gnomic sayings used in Greek and biblical wisdom literature? provenance
- Which entry fits wisdom literature? action
Context Attribution.
Attribution.
Misattribution
Misattributed sayings.
Misattribution
Misattribution.
- Why are sayings often misattributed to famous people, and how can origins be checked? provenance
- Is the information accurate? boundary
Political phrases
Political phrases.
Political phrases
Political phrases.
- How do media collect phrases of politicians such as Putinisms, presented neutrally with sources attributed? provenance
- Which entry fits political rhetoric? action
What the second pass must settle
- The registry alias Putinisms should be moved to a collection or topic entry
- Should the Mahavakyas be a separate entry?
- How should proverb databases be linked?