Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for B returned 4320 results.
DOES WATER FALL OVER A DAM?
Submitter comment: MEANS THE AFFIRMATIVE TO A QUESTION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-00-1971
FORMULA SPEECH
IF YOU SAY "FAN DIBBS" TO A FRIEND BEFORE HE SAYS "DIBBS", THAT
MEANS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE WITH HIM. BUT
IF HE SAYS "DIBBS" BEFORE YOU SAY "FAN DIBBS", THEN YOU HAVE TO
SHARE IT WITH HIM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HIS HOME ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DIBBS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-26-1971
IT IS JUST AS SIMPLE AS ABC.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; PEORIA
Keyword(s): ALPHABET
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00-00-1954
RETORT
WHEN SOMEONE ASKS YOU IF YOU HAVE A MATCH, YOU CHEERILY ANSWER BACK:
"YEAH, DAFFY DUCK AND SPIRO AGNEW." OR "SURE -- ME AND SUPERMAN."
Submitter comment: I OBTAINED THIS ONE WITHOUT EVEN ASKING FOR IT.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT
James Callow Keyword(s): BRAG BOAST ; CARTOON CHARACTER DAFFY DUCK ANIMAL ; VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: SPIRO AGNEW
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
LOOKING IN CORNERS
WHEN SOME PERSON YOU KNOW IS CONSTANTLY SNOOPING AROUND YOU CAN SAY
"ONLY MONKEYS LOOK IN CORNERS."
WHEN YOU WRITE A LETTER OR A NOTE YOU CAN WRITE "ONLY MONKEYS LOOK
IN CORNERS."
Submitter comment:
THESE TWO GO TOGETHER BECAUSE OFTEN PEOPLE LOOK FOR MISTAKES IN
LETTERS THEY RECEIVE AND BY PUTTING THE PHRASE IN ONE OF THE CORNERS
YOU ARE SAYING THAT THE PERSON SHOULD ENJOY THE LETTER AND NOT LOOK
FOR MISTAKES. THIS IS A COMMON PRACTICE FOR THE INFORMANT.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): ANIMAL COMPARISON
James Callow Keyword(s): PARA-RIME: BUY BE ; TREATING TO DRINKS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 01-24-1971
FORMULA SPEECH FOR CLEANING UP PLATE
"TWO-THIRDS OF THE WORLD IS STARVING."
Submitter comment:
COLLECTOR HEARD THIS OFTEN IN HIS CHILDHOOD IF HE HAD LEFT FOOD
ON HIS PLATE AT THE COMPLETION OF A MEAL.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): PARENTAL REBUKE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-23-1970
IN ITALY, IF A GIRL IS PINCHED BY A GUY IN THE REAR,
SHE IS SUPPOSED TO TAKE IT AS A COMPLIMENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORMS
James Callow Keyword(s): BUTTOCKS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage SPEECH -- Congratulations Appreciation Appreciation of female beauty |
Date learned: 10-02-1969
BEAUTIFUL
THERE IS A BRASILIAN GESTURE IN WHICH THE RIGHT
FINGERS ARE TUGGING AT THE EARLOBE, WHICH MEANS THAT
SOMETHING WAS GOOD OR BEAUTIFUL.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LIVED IN BRASIL FOR 6 YEARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BRAZIL ; ROSEVILLE
Keyword(s): BRAZIL
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Congratulations Appreciation Appreciation of female beauty |
Date learned: 02-12-1970
TO MEAN EVERYTHING IS ALL RIGHT, EXTEND ERECT THUMB
AND CLENCHED FOUR FINGERS.
Where learned: ONTARIO ; CANADA, ASSUMED ; OAKVILLE
Keyword(s): THUMBS UP
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- All right O.K. |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Entry filtered.
CHILDREN WHO AREN'T GETTING ALONG IN NEWFOUNDLAND
{CANADA} HAVE AN INSULTING GREETING WHICH CONSISTS
OF LIFTING UP THE RIGHT LEG OFF OF THE GROUND AND
SLAPPING THE RIGHT BUTTOX WITH THE RIGHT HAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BUTTOCKS ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Derision Scorn |
Date learned: 11-00-1971
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
THE LITTLE AND INDEX FINGERS RAISED FROM A CLENCHED
FIST WITH KNUCKLES TOWARD BEARER, TELLS RECEIVER
HE IS "FULL OF IT."
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): DISBELIEF
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Derision Scorn |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
SOMETIMES THERE IS A PERSON IN A GROUP OF PEOPLE
THAT IS TELLING EXTRA-BULL STORIES. A GESTURE USED
TO SHOW THIS IS: MAKING A SHOVELING MOTION--THAT
THE BULL IS GETTING PRETTY DEEP.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): BULL=UNTRUTH, LIE ; DISBELIEF
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Derision Scorn |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GESTURE
TO TURN ONE'S NOSE UP. THIS HAS REFERENCES AS A SCORN.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): SNOBBISH ; SNOOTY ; SNUB ; STUCK-UP
James Callow Keyword(s): METAPHOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Derision Scorn |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN A RADIO OR TELEVISION STUDIO SITUATION ONE OR TWO
HANDS RAISED IN THE AIR WITH THE PALMS FACING THE
PERSON ON THE AIR INDICATES TO THAT PERSON TO GET
READY OR TO STAND BY FOR ANOTHER SIGNAL TO COME.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT IS IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS AND
HAS USED THIS GESTURE AND HAS SEEN OTHERS USE A
GESTURE OF SIMILAR NATURE WHEN SPEAKING DURING AN
"AIR SITUATION" IS PROHIBITED.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): BROADCASTING
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 11-01-1971
THE DRAWING APART OF TWO HANDS AS IF PULLING TAFFY MEANS
TO SLOW DOWN OR TO STRETCH OUT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT USES THIS WHEN HE'S TALKING. HE USES THIS
WHEN HE IS TRYING TO PROLONG A MOMENT WHILE TRYING
TO FIND THE RIGHT WORDS TO SAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BROADCASTING?
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 10-03-1971
IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS WHEN SPEAKING IS NOT
ALLOWED DURING AN "AIR SITUATION" THE INDEX FINGER
WHEN POINTED AT THAT PERSON GOING TO BE ON "THE AIR"
BY USE OF THE WHOLE FOREARM IN BENDING AT THE
ELBOW, MEANS THE PERSON CAN BEGIN, OR START.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT IS IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS AND
HAS USED THIS SIGNAL TO INSTRUCT A PERSON WHO IS ON
THE AIR TO BEGIN.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): COMMUNICATIONS? CLEAR AS MUD.
James Callow Keyword(s): BROADCASTING
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 10-31-1971
THERE IS A BRASILIAN GESTURE IN WHICH ONE TAKES HIS
RIGHT HAND AND THROWS IT OUT, THEN DOWN, AND THEN
BACK QUICKLY WHICH MEANS "COME HERE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
Keyword(s): BRAZIL ; SOUTH AMERICA
James Callow Keyword(s): COME HITHER GESTURE
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 02-19-1970