The Economic Implications of Wolaita Proverbs: Functional Analysis
The purpose of this study was to collect and analyze some selected Wolaita proverbs for their implications of Wolaita’s economic realm of life. The subjects used for the current study were 100 theme-relevant proverbs collected by interviewing systematically selected 24 elders and through conducting participant-based observation being part of social interactions taking place in different villages. The descriptive research design was used to conduct this study using the qualitative method of data analysis. The result indicated that Wolaita proverbs embody Wolaita’s economic realm of life such as scarcity of resources and how Wolaitas manage it, unwise and wise use of resources, sources of wealth and economic inequality among people. Based on these findings, therefore, deep and series studies that promote the frequent use of Wolaita proverbs reflecting Wolaita’s economic realm of life in all adequate contexts of interaction, awareness enhancement training for young generations of Wolaita for effective use of those proverbs in the proper interactional situations, making proverbs as part of language curriculum in all levels of education and maintenance of Wolaita proverbs as vehicles of transferring indigenous wisdom to the next generation are recommended to be implemented by the all concerned bodies across the nation.
