<em>Trastes vellos ao faiado</em>. Análise dun subtipo de refráns sen verbo principal

Abstract

This paper looks at a sub-group of proverbs with no main verb such as Trastes vellos, ao faiado (Old junk, to the attic); Amigos, poucos e bos (Friends: few and good [ones]) or Nin bo coxo nin bo noxo (No [such thing as a] good cripple, no good contempt). It inquires into how the two parts of which such proverbs normally consist may be linked, or (to a lesser extent) what notions are interpolated to achieve a reading of a phrase (or coordinated phrases) in a predicative sense. The conclusion reached is that the commonest values are those which are either semantically empty or have a generic meaning, and which can be paraphrased with be, have, exist or get, though other conceptually richer values (e.g. 'be the best', 'eat' or 'plough') may also be encountered. The article poses the question of how a unique interpretation is achieved in such cases: this may come about, for example, because of the presence of complements that leave no doubt about the kind of event described or prescribed, or be due to recurring patterns already associated with a given interpretation. It also discusses the fact that some proverbs do have ambiguous interpretations, arguing that such issues generally find an explanation in the fact that at the time when the expressions in question were first consolidated the issue was not present, or not to the same extent, and has only come about owing to new circumstances in contemporary life.