Hardcover book
168 pages
Size
6"x6.5" (15x16,5cm)
Translation in
English
Dutch
Papiamentu
Photographs
30 illustrated portraits
Published by
Fundashon Bon Kousa
Available
September 2011
Recommended Retail Price
$ 24,95
© 2011 Fundashon Bon Kousa Foundation Bonaire | Site terms & Disclaimer | Contact
SUPPORT
FOR ONLY
$15,- PER BOOK
In order to make the Proverbio book available to all the children on Papiamentu speaking schools in Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba, The Bon Kousa foundation provides, at a special price, books for the School donations program.
As no Proverb books are available, our program will provide teachers and children with the book. This to learn and to use proverbs as part of their traditional Papiamentu culture.
You can help. Please participate and select our school donation program. Fundashon Bon Kousa will deliver your book donations to the local schools.
1001 Papiamentu Proverbs translated n English & Dutch
Welcome to the "1001 Proverbio" website of
Fundashon Bon Kousa, Bonaire.
On this site you can find info on:
• ordering Proverbio books in our webshop,
• read about our school donation program,
• find local resellers and
• more information about the Bon Kousa Foundation.
ABOUT THE 1001 PROVERBIO BOOK
This book is a tribute to the colourful Papiamentu language.
A language spoken by only 260.000 people on three islands of the former Dutch Antilles; Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba. Although this language is only spoken in a small region, this collection of proverbs shows how by use of creativity, humour and love the Papiamentu language managed to develop and maintain itself.
Papiamentu is an essential part of the island culture. It is important not to lose the beauty and richness of a cultural heritage as recent political and social developments can change the existing culture. People who know their past can build towards a better future.
In December 2010 an old, no longer available book by Father Paul Brenneker (1912-1996) came to our attention. As a Dominican friar on Curacao he collected authentic Papiamentu proverbs during the 1950’s and ‘60’s and brought them together. What a joy to discover this surprising and often unknown treasure of language!
As a result of our enthusiastic encounter we decided to try and preserve this heritage. After gaining permission from the heirs of Father Brenneker to use his collection of proverbs as the basis for our book, we brought together a team of experts: linguists and teachers in Papiamentu, English and Dutch. They helped to modernise and correct this current edition of “Proverbio”. We illustrated the book with 30 photographs in which young and older Bonairians visualise the literal text of some proverbs.
We did consider trying to find out the true meaning and correct use of the proverbs, but this requires a separate project with in-depth research and discussion. This book therefore limits itself to a literal rendition of the Papiamentu proverbs.
Since these proverbs were collected in the middle of the last century, readers today might think some proverbs strange and questionable. Some will be unclear because we have no frame of reference, others could be discriminating or even condescending. We choose to republish all the proverbs from the original book, because they all belong to the cultural heritage of the Papiamentu language.
We would like to thank everyone who donated his or her time and work to this book. We could not have done it without you!
Jacqueline Bremmers & Bart Landheer
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge