PROVERBSINLATINAMERICANTALKProverbsarethepopularsayingsthatbrightensomuchLatinAmericantalk,theboiled-downwisdomthatyouareasapttohearfromprofessorsasfrompeasants,frombeggarsasfromelegantes.Briefandcolorful,theymoreoftenthannotcarryasting.Whenaneighbor'sdismallyunattractivedaughterannounceherengagement,Imeldaremarked,"Youknowwhattheysay,Senora:'There'snopot.souglyitcan'tfindalid.'"Andwhenherson-in-lawblusteredabouthowhewasgoingtogetevenwiththebosswhohaddockedhispay,Imeldafixedhimwithacoldeyeandsaid,"Littlefishdoesnoteatbigfish."OneafternoonIheardImeldaandherdaughterarguinginthekitchen.Herdaughterhadquarrelledwithherhusband'sparents,andImeldawasinsistingthatsheapologizetothem.Herdaughterobjected."But,Mama,Ijustcan'tswallowthem,notevenwithhoney.Theytalksobiguntilweneedsomething;thenthey'retoopoor.Sotodaywhentheywouldn'teventendenoughtopayforanewbed,allIdidwassaysomethingthatI'veheardyousayahundred:'Ifsogrand,whysopoor?Ifsopoor,whysogrand?'""Impertinent!"snortedImelda."HaveInotalsotaughtyou,'Whatthetonguesays,theneckpaysfor'?IwillnothaveitsaidthatIcouldneverteachmydaughterproperrespectforherelders.Andbeforeyougotobegtheirpardon,changethosetrousersforadress.Youknowhowyourmother-in-lawfeelsaboutpantsonawoman.Shealwayssays,'Whatwashatchedahenmustnottrytobearooster!'"Herdaughtermadeonemoretry."ButMama,youoftensay,'Ifthesaintisannoyed,don'tpraytohimuntilhegetsoverit.'Can'tIleaveitfortomorrow?""No,noandno!Remember:'Ifthedoseisnasty,swallowitfast.'Youknow,mychild,youdidwrong.But,'Agiftisthekeytoopenthedoorclosedagainstyou.'IhaveacakeintheoventhatlwasmakingfortheSenora'sdinner,IwillexplaintotheSenora;Now,dear,hurryhomeandmakeyourselfprettyinyourpinkdress.Bythetimeyougetback,Iwillhavethecakereadyforyoutotaketoyourmother-in-laShewillbesopleasedthatshemaymakeyourfather-in-lawpayforthebed.Remember:'Onehandwashestheother,buttogethertheywashtheface.'"(Reader's.Digest)拉美人谈话中的谚语谚语即流行的说法。它可以使拉美语言变得生动。谚语也是一种浓缩的智慧。从教授到农民，从乞丐到贵族，你都能从他们口中听到谚语。言语是精炼而生动的，它往往带有些讽刺意味。当一个邻居家抑郁又丑陋的女儿宣布她订婚时，Imelda说：“太太，你知道大家都怎么说么？‘任何一个罐子都不愁找到一个盖子’。”当她的女婿气势汹汹地说，他将如何去找扣他工钱的老板算帐时Imelda用冷冷的眼神盯着他说：“小鱼吃不了大鱼。”一天下午我听到了Imelda和她女儿在争吵。他女儿和公婆吵了一架。Imelda坚持要求女儿去和他们道歉。她的女儿反对道：“可是，妈妈，我只是无法忍受他们。及时涂了蜜变甜也没办法使我接受。他们总是吹牛，知道我们需要东西时，他们又改口说自己很穷。所以今天当他们连一张新床的钱都付不起的时候，我就说了你们常说的那句话：‘既然敢吹牛为什么那么穷？既然那么穷为什么还敢吹牛？’”“太无礼了！”Imelda嗤之以鼻道，“难道我没教过你，‘舌头说的话，脖子要负责任’吗？我可不想被人说我从不教自己的女儿尊敬长辈。在你去请求他们原谅之前，记得那裤子换成裙子，你应该知道你婆婆是如何看待穿裤子的女人的。她总是说，‘孵出来的是母鸡就别想去做公鸡。’”她女儿又狡辩道：“但是妈妈，你常说，‘如果圣人被惹怒，也不要在他忘记这件事情之前向他祈。’我能不能明天再去道歉？”“不行，不行，不行！记住:’如果药很难喝，就把它快点吞下。’你知道的，我的孩子，你做错了。但是，‘一件礼物是打开对你关闭的门的钥匙。’我烤炉里的蛋糕是为太太的晚餐准备的，我会向她解释的；现在，亲爱的，赶快回家换上你那粉色的裙子把自己打扮得漂漂亮亮的。等你回来时，我将为你准备好蛋糕带给你的婆婆。她一定会很高兴，并且她会让你的公公买下那张新床。记住：‘一只手只能洗另一只手，但双手一起可以洗脸。’”