heavy

In Gbaya, the notion of being heavy (or: strong) is emphasized in the referenced verses with ɗɔ́ŋ-ɗɔ́ŋ, an ideophone that denotes something that is heavy regardless of volume, i.e. it expresses volumeness, volumonosity.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 27:3

Verses 3-4 share the same form: “C is worse than either A or B.”

“A stone is heavy and sand is weighty”: This line may also be expressed as “The weight of stones and the heaviness of sand,” because it is the quality of heaviness that is compared in the next line and not the materials “stone” and “sand”. See Good News Translation.

“But a fool’s provocation is heavier than both”: For “fool” see 1.7. “Provocation” refers to irritation or trouble, and here it is the irritation or trouble that the fool’s behavior causes. It is rendered in some languages “When a fool makes trouble. . ..” “Heavier” translates the same root used in line 1. If it is not possible to speak of the trouble caused by the fool as being heavy, it may be possible to say, for example, “but the trouble made by a fool is more of a burden than stone and sand.” In one translation the verse is rendered “The silly behavior of a fool gives us great trouble, which is bigger than the weight of a big rock or a heap of sand.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Proverbs 27:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 27:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “A stone and sand are heavy alright,
    but when a foolish person gets angry/annoying it is very heavy/difficult for people.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Rocks and sand are heavy.
    But the trouble which fools make
    is the heaviest of all.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Stone and sand are heavy, but it is more hard/[lit. heavy] to emotionally-feel if a foolish man provoke- you (sing.) -to-anger.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Stones and gravel are heavy, but the problems that a foolish-person causes-to-be are heavier.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “It causes pain to our bodies to carry heavy stones or a pail full of sand,
    but doing something stupid/foolish can cause great pain to other people’s spirits.” (Source: Translation for Translators)