The Proverb as a tool for Addressing Social Challenges: The Case of Dangme Youth

Abstract

The elderly is presumed to be the custodians of proverbs.  This wisdom-bound group is said to be responsible for idioms and aphorisms.  This paper closely looks at some selected proverbs of Dangme used in addressing social vices among the youth of Dangme.  Data were drawn from primary sources only; family meetings, traditional court of arbitrations at senior divisional chief’s court in Ada, funerals, marriages and naming ceremonies.  The respondents provided the context within which these proverbs are used. The data is cast within Brown and Levinson’s (1978, 1987), Politeness Theory. The findings indicate that proverbs among the Dangme can be categorized into those used for addressing issues regarding the virtues that need to be upheld, vices that must be discouraged as well as those used in showing the consequences of disobedience. It is to be noted that the correct use of proverbs to the youth in the Dangme communities resolves the social challenges in contemporary times and brings sanity and peace among all classes of people.  However, the wrong use of proverbs can create chaos and anarchy.