For a Pashtun; the world is a dangerous place. . . . To negotiate such a world; a man or woman needs wise words. . . . Pashto proverbs provide critical lessons about faith and honor; human nature and relationships; friends and enemies; power and revenge; in short; how to live in a society that is at once fragrant with friendship; fraught with ambiguities; and seared by treachery. You are invited to look into the world of the Pashtun through the pages of Rohi Mataluna: Pashto Proverbs. This selection of 1;350 Pashto proverbs (mataluna) from the mountainous (rohi) Afghan borderlands; with English translation and cultural annotations; aims to preserve some of the original flavor of an oral literature that reflects a traditional culture now facing turmoil and inevitable change. This second edition has been completely updated; revised; and expanded with new material; while taking care to preserve and honor the original work of the first edition. It includes: -- Cultural background and context of the Afghan frontier -- Explanations of key words and concepts -- Examples of the use of texts in social situations -- Observations on the form and structure of proverbs -- Parallel and variant texts -- Background stories -- Index of key words; persons; and places This book will appeal to readers and students of Pashto and English; to scholars and tourists; to anthropologists and folklorists; and to all those interested in learning more about the Pashtun people of the Afghan frontier.
#144006 in Books Baylor University Press 2014-01-31Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x .67 x 5.98l; .96 #File Name: 1602584664295 pagesBaylor University Press
Review
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Scarey and Meaningful for these timesBy AbbieI heard the author on Coast to Coast; and even though he had that dry; flat Midwestern accent (sort of like Margaret Hamilton in "The Wizard of Oz") I knew I had to get the book. What is it that rumbles in the American unconscious that relates to the figures we see on the screen. In his comments on the 1931 "Frankenstein" W. Scott Poole; relates that the idea of the "abnormal brain" that Fritz grabs for Henry Frankenstein being the cause of the monster's murderous mentality being a reflection of the "scientific rascism" of the day. Just about all the scarey things that crawl into popular media hail from the leaf-littered shadowy forests that haunt the American mind. The kind of monsters depends on the era. Frankenstein (1931) happens when somebody tries to make a more perfect human. Dracula (1931) is based on the fear of foreigners and disease. Newer movies like "Terminator;" shows what happens when we place our trust in machines. And I don't have to mention the meaning of all the zombie movies.This book is great if you want a good read that sorts out all the socialogical issues springing forth like new shoots under the mold of old horror movies (and like a good metaphor). It's also an easy and informative read for anybody having to to a paper on the history of race and racism and how it's reflected in the popular culture. Poole is brutally honest about the horrors of our past and how it been softened by the big (and little) screen. The book also (maybe unintentionally) has insights for every aspiring horror filmmaker.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Monsters; monsters; everywhere!By SaunAn amazing book for anyone interested in monsters; American history; or both. Poole's theory that we create our monsters based on cultural and sociological fears and that monsters absorb meaning is highly interesting and well proved.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Its a fun read with a lot of insightful looks at American ...By PsychoclockThis book was exactly what I needed (bought for a college class). Its a fun read with a lot of insightful looks at American Culture.
