Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SPEECH returned 35 results.
GOOD LUCK IN THEATRE: "BREAK A LEG."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | DRAMA -- Secular BELIEF -- Good luck Activities SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-30-1967
POLISH GOOD FRIDAY CUSTOM
IF THE PEOPLE CAN'T BE IN CHURCH FOR THE TRE ORE SERVICES, THEY DO
NOT SPEAK AT ALL FOR THE 3 HOURS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): SILENCE ; SPEECH TABOO
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
ON EASTER, IF THE FIRST WORD YOU SAY IS RABBIT, THE REST OF THE
YEAR WILL BE GOOD.
Where learned: HOME ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT, ASSUMED ; STUDENT UNION
Keyword(s): LUCK ; RITUAL SPEECH
Date learned: 03-30-1971
"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME FOR? I DIDN'T COME TO STAY. I ONLY CAME
TO TELL YOU THIS IS EASTER DAY."
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A GREETING BY THE CHURCH DEACON TO THE CONGREGATION AT
EASTER MASS.
Keyword(s): RITUAL SPEECH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.663 Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday |
Date learned: 10-30-1971
FORMULA SPEECH;
ON EASTER SUNDAY, ONE ROMANIAN, INSTEAD OF SAYING "HELLO," SAYS
"CHRIST HAS RISEN." THE OTHER PERSON RESPONDS, "HE HAS RISEN
INDEED."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE CUSTOM FOR GENERATIONS. SHE
DOES NOT KNOW WHY IT IS DONE EXCEPT POSSIBLY TO STRESS THE THEME
OF THE SEASON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GREETING ; RITUAL SPEECH
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-16-1971
SALUTATION
THE UKRAINIAN TRADITIONAL GREETING FOR THE EASTER SEASON IS
"KHRYSTOS VOSKRES" (CHRIST IS RISEN) TO WHICH THE REPLY IS, "VOISTYNO
VOSKRES" (HE IS RISEN INDEED). THIS SALUTATION SUPERCEDES (SIC) ALL
FROM EASTER MORNING TO ASCENSION DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): RITUAL SPEECH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Ascension Day |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
CUSTOM
ON THE DAY AFTER EASTER, THE POLISH CHILDREN WOULD GO FROM HOUSE TO
HOUSE KNOCKING ON THE DOORS. THE PEOPLE INVITED THEM INSIDE
WHERE ONE OF THE CHILDREN WOULD BRUSH THE PERSON ACROSS THE ANKLES
WITH A SWITCH WHILE THE OTHERS RECITED A SPECIAL GROUP OF WORDS.
WHEN THEY WERE FINISHED, THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE WOULD GIVE THEM
A BLESSED EGG, A PIECE OF CANDY, OR IN MOST CASES, MONEY.
THIS WAS CALLED DINGUS DAY, THE NAME DERIVED FROM THE WORDS RECITED;
DINGUS, DINGUS, PODINGUS...
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
Keyword(s): EASTER GIFTS ; RITUAL SPEECH ; RITUAL WHIPPING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.663 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
TALKATIVE
HE HAS THE GIFT OF GAB.
Submitter comment:
BOB TOLD ME THIS ONE DAY WHEN WE WERE AT SCHOOL AND WE WERE LISTENING
TO THIS BOY TALK QUITE A BIT.
Where learned: SCHOOL
Keyword(s): SLANG ; SPEECH METAPHOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
LIMERICK
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF NORWAY
WHO CASUALLY SAT IN A DOORWAY.
WHEN THE DOOR SQUEEZED HER FLAT
SHE EXCLAIMED, "WHAT OF THAT?"
THIS COURAGEOUS YOUNG LADY OF NORWAY.
Where learned: LETTER ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): IMPUSSIBLE SPEECH ; RHYME: AABBA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOMS AND CELEBRATIONS
SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THE NEW YEAR THE CHINESE WILL
PREPARE A PASTRY. THIS IS PREPARED BY THE METHOD OF
STEMMING. IF CHILDREN ASK IF THE PASTRY IS DONE
BEFORE IT IS FULLY COOKED, THE PEOPLE BELIEVE
THAT THE PASTRY WILL NEVER BE FULLY COOKED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN TAIWAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; 4001 W MCNICHOLS ; LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SPEECH TABU ; STEAMING FOOD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Winter Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert |
Date learned: 02-02-1971
TELEPHONE CATCHES
MY GIRLFRIEND AND I USED TO PLAY TRICKS ON PEOPLE AND
CALL UP ON THE PHONE AND ASK, "IS YOUR REFRIGERATOR
RUNNING?" WHEN SOMEONE WOULD ANSWER OR GRUNT, WE'D
THEN ADD, "YOU'D BETTER CATCH IT!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; SAGINAW
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 03-27-1971
WHY DID THE BLACK MAN WEAR A TUXEDO TO HIS VASECTOMY?
ANSWER. IF I'M GONNA BE IMPOTENT I MIGHT AS WELL LOOK
IMPOTENT.
Submitter comment:
I GOT THIS JOKE FROM THE MOVIE "SOUL MAN." IT WAS TOLD
BY TWO WHITE GUYS IN FRONT OF A BLACK GUY TO MAKE HIM
FEEL BAD.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): IMPOTENT- USED INSTEAD OF THE WORD IMPORTANT TO MAKE ; THE BLACK MAN'S SPEECH SEEM BAD.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- BLAC |
Date learned: 10-00-1987
If two people say the same thing at the same time
you should hook your little fingers and make a
wish.
Submitter comment:
Informant says she has been practicing this since
she was a little girl.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Simultaneity of speech
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Gesture SPEECH -- Wishes Wants Desires Predictions |
Date learned: 00001950S
THOSE IN THE THEATER, WHEN THEY WANT TO WISH AN
ACTOR OR AN ACTRESS GOOD LUCK, SAY: "BREAK A LEG."
Submitter comment:
THOSE CONNECTED WITH THE THEATER FEEL IT IS BAD
LUCK TO WISH SOMEONE GOOD LUCK BEFORE THEY GO ON
STAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | DRAMA -- Secular BELIEF -- Conversions Activities SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-24-1968
WHEN SOMEONE MENTIONS SOMETHING THAT HE HAS HAD
GOOD LUCK WITH IN HIS LIFE, HE PROMPTLY KNOCKS
ON WOOD AND/OR SAYS, "KNOCK ON WOOD" IN ORDER
TO KEEP HIS LUCK FROM CHANGING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions Activities SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN TWO PEOPLE WOULD SAY THE SAME THING AT THE SAME
TIME, THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY "OWE ME A COKE" WOULD
RECEIVE SOME SORT OF GOOD LUCK.
(SUPPOSEDLY IN THE FORM OF A FREE COKE (COCA-COLA,
A SOFT DRINK).
Submitter comment:
THE WAY I LEARNED IT, THE PERSON SAYING "OWE ME A
COKE" WOULD HAVE TO SLUG THE OTHER GUY ON THE
SHOULDER IN ORDER TO VALIDATE THE CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Conversions Activities SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
THIS WAS COLLECTED APRIL 11, 1967 FROM MY SISTER. SHE
HEARD IT FROM HER CLASSMATES; SHE IS IN JUNIOR HIGH
SCHOOL.
WHEN TWO PEOPLE TALK AT THE SAME TIME, ONE MUST SAY
"NEEDLES AND PINS" IN ORDER TO PREVENT BAD LUCK.
Where learned: JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; WYANDOTTE
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions Activities SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 04-11-1967
"LUCKY AT CARDS, UNLUCKY AT LOVE."
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Conversions Games Pastimes Sports SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 08-00-1967
TELL SOMEONE THAT YOU CAN SAY THE ALPHABET FASTER BACKWARDS THAN
THEY CAN SAY IT FORWARD. SHOULD THEY AGREE... AT THE GO SIGNAL
YOU TURN YOUR BACK TO THEM AND SAY THE ALPHABET FORWARD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SPEECH
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
Entry filtered.