Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for NUN returned 36 results.
MOSQUITO FLY HI,
MOSQUITO FLY LO,
FLY ON ME,
YOU FLY NO MO!
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): CONTRAST QUATRAIN ELLIPSIS ; HUMOR SLANG CACOGRAPHY UNDERSTATEMENT ; METER: IRREGULAR, RHYME: STRAINED ; PRONUNCIATION ; RHYME: ABCB DIALECT ; THREAT ANIMAL REPETITION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
THE FOLLOWING CONVERSATION TOOK PLACE BETWEEN A CUSTOMER AND A
WAITRESS IN A JEWISH RESTAURANT.
FUNEM?
SVFM.
FUNEX?
SVFX.
OKMNX.
TRANSLATION:
HAVE YOU ANY HAM?
YES, WE HAVE HAM.
HAVE YOU ANY EGGS?
YES, WE HAVE EGGS.
OK, HAM AND EGGS.
Submitter comment:
WHEN MY GREAT UNCLE TRIED THIS ON US NO ONE COULD GUESS IT JUST BY
LOOKING AT IT. HOWEVER, WHEN HE READ IT TO US USING EXPRESSION IT
WAS MUCH EASIER TO CATCH ON. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS "PUZZLE" IS
THAT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CATCH ON TO THE FIRST TIME YOU SEE
IT. THEN ONCE YOU ARE TOLD WHAT IT MEANS THE ELEMENT OF CURIOSITY IS
DESTROYED. ALMOST INVARIABLY PEOPLE WILL TRY TO READ EACH LINE
AS A WORD NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU TELL THEM TO PRONOUNCE EACH
LETTER SEPARATELY.
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
James Callow Keyword(s): JEWISH PRONUNCIATION OF ENGLISH
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Group of Vowels and Consonants, and of Words RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00001960S
Entry filtered.
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS A BIGAMIST?
A: AN ITALIAN FOG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): SATIRE OF ITALIAN PRONUNCIATION OF ENGLISH
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- W4OO |
Date learned: 10-15-1972
ITALIAN JOKE
WHAT DOES AN ITALIAN CALL A HEAVY FOG? BIGAMIST
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
James Callow Keyword(s): ETHNIC PRONUNCIATION
| Subject headings: | ITAL |
Date learned: 11-00-1972
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER?
A: NEWSPAPER.
Data entry tech comment: 7 OTHER EXAMPLES IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM (PLAY ON WORDS) ; NATURAL PHENOMENON (Q) COLOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 09-12-1965
RIDDLE
Q: WHY DID THE LADY OPEN HER PURSE OUTSIDE?
A: SHE THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME CHANGE IN THE WEATHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; CONUNDRUM ; MONETARY (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-20-1968
LIGHT TREE
WHAT TREE CAN YOU HOLD IN YOUR HAND?
A PALM TREE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES NOT REMEMBER WHERE HE LEARNED THIS
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
Keyword(s): BODY PART PLANT STRENGTH ; CONUNDRUM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-12-1967
SUCCESS
WHO IS A SUCCESSFUL FARMER?
A MAN OUTSTANDING IN HIS FIELD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES NOT REMEMBER WHERE HE LEARNED THIS
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; DEAD METAPHOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-04-1967
CANDLE TALK
WHAT DID ONE CANDLE SAY TO THE OTHER CANDLE?
ARE YOU GOING OUT TONIGHT?
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LOUISVILLE
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; PERSONIFICATION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-22-1967
WET MELONS
WHY IS THERE SO MUCH WATER IN A WATERMELON?
BECAUSE IT WAS PLANTED IN THE SPRING.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LOUISVILLE
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; SEASON FRIUT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-22-1967
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DONKEY AND A POSTAGE STAMP?
ONE YOU LICK WITH A STICK THE OTHER YOU STICK WITH A LICK
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): CHIASMUS SPOONERISM CONUNDRUM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-30-1967
WHEN IS A BOY NOT A BOY?
WHEN HE'S A-BED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-23-1967
WHAT HAS FOUR WHEELS AND FLYS?
A GARBAGE TRUCK.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 12-05-1967
RIDDLE
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TUNA FISH AND A PIANO?
YOU CAN'T TUNE A FISH
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-26-1967
LOCKED UP
IF YOU WERE LOCKED UP IN A ROOM AND ALL YOU HAD
IN THE ROOM WAS A BED AND A CALENDAR
HOW WOULD YOU SURVIVE?
DRINK FROM THE SPRINGS OF THE BED, AND
EAT THE DATES OFF THE CALENDAR.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS JOKE WHEN I WAS LIVING IN DETROIT FROM A FRIEND.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM PUN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-11-1967
DARKNESS
IF YOU WERE IN A COMPLETELY DARK ROOM WHERE THERE
WAS NO EXIT AND ALL THERE WAS IN THE HOLE WAS A
MIRROR, HOW COULD YOU GET OUT?
LOOK IN THE MIRROR TO SEE WHAT YOU SAW,
TAKE THE SAW AND SAW A HOLE THROUGH THE WALL TO GET OUT.
Submitter comment:
THIS RIDDLE WENT AROUND AND WAS QUITE
POPULAR WHEN I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM PUN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-11-1967
RIDDLE QUESTION
WHAT IS BLACK AND WHITE AND GOES CLICK CLICK?
SISTER MARY BALL POINT
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT IS A COLLEGE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
WHO HEARD THE RIDDLE IN OCTOBER, 1963 FROM A FELLOW STUDENT WHEN THE
COLOR RIDDLES WERE POPULAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): NUN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 12-02-1963
Entry filtered.
SONG OF RELIGIOUS JEST
BLESS THEM ALL, BLESS THEM ALL, BLESS THEM ALL.
THE SHORT, THE FAT, AND THE TALL.
BLESS ALL OF OUR TEACHERS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES
WHO TALKED US ALL INTO BECOMING NUNS.
FOR WE'RE GOING TO ANSWER THE CALL
WE'RE SAYING GOOD-BYE TO IT ALL
GOOD-BYE TO THE LIPSTICK AND ALL OF THE JOYS
GOOD-BYE TO THE SAILORS AND ALL OF THE BOYS.
FOR WE'RE ENTERING THE CONVENT TODAY.
FOR ALL YOU SINNERS WE'LL PRAY
YOU'LL CURSE AND YOU'LL SWEAR
BUT WE'LL BE SAFE WHERE
THEY WEAR BLACK STOCKINGS
AND SHAVE OFF THEIR HAIR.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NUN
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 10-30-1969