Expression Corner (2)
Mood:  chatty
Topic: Language

EC is a section where we let you in on the Finnish expressions

This year it will be 115 years ago that the father of wellerisms, professor Archer Taylor, was born. Of course he didn't make them up himself, but he was the first one who studied wellerisms on an academic level.

A Wellerism is a linguistic term for a humoristic expression (used mostly in folk stories) which contains both direct speech and a reporting clause. Especially Finnish language is rich in these, and one wellerism can have many variants. For example:

in English:
"There're many tricks, said the old hag, while wiping the table with a cat"
in Finnish:
"Konstit on monet sanoi akka, kun kissalla poytaa pyyhki"
or
in English:
"There're many tricks, said the old hag, when she was peeing while walking"
in Finnish:
"Konstit on monet sanoi akka, kun kusi ja kaveli"
or
in English:
"There're many tricks, said the old hag, while milking the bulls"
in Finnish:
"Konstit on monet sanoi akka, kun sonnia lypsi"

What does this particular wellerism mean? It is typically used in a situation where something needs to be done (urgently) and though it looks like there is no solution, there will be one...:-) Often it also describes an illogical way of handling difficulties.