Oromo Proverbs: The Analysis of Context, Value, and Syntax

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the of proverbs in the act of conversations among the Oromo people. Oromo proverbs were then under close scrutiny of context, value, and syntax. In so doing, the qualitative research method that stems from realist ethnography was put to use so as to encapsulate its purpose. Afterwards, the investigation was carried out using a total of (n = 116) from the Arsi Oromo inhabited Kersa and its vicinity in Arsi zone, Ethiopia. Of this amount, thus, (n= 78 (67%), male; n = 38 (33%) female) involved voluntarily. To catch up the research agenda, purposive sampling was used as a means of selecting the participants whereby age was a requirement. In the quest, the research subsequently used three instruments: participant observation, interview, and field notes. The findings therefore hereby show that contexts and values are embedded in proverbs though their linguistic analysis entirely rely on scholarly accomplishment. In these realities are explicated three paradoxical nature of proverbs – brevity, acculturation, and social control. At last, recommendations and implications are given so that the outcomes of the study will aid in the enactments.