A WORLD OF WISDOM

A browsable book exploring common English-language proverbs and idioms and some of their counterparts in a variety of countries.

Originally a Kickstarter project, this book collects hundreds of idioms and phrases from the English language and contrasts them with their counterparts in many other countries and cultures, from Armenia and Argentina to Sierra Leone and South Korea. An introduction provides brief definitions of proverbs and idioms, as well as why it is important to explore cultural differences among languages, before diving in. Most phrases are allocated a single page with a large illustrative cartoon; the English-language translation appears in an all-caps header, with the phrase in the original language and the nationality attribution just below it, along with an interpretation. Double-page spreads exploring interpretations of one specific phrase (for example, “when the cat’s away, the mice will play”) feature multiple quoted phrases translated to English with their nation of origin in parentheses, with the quote in its originating language included in the backmatter. There are no source notes or information on how these phrases were gathered and translated. Friendly, silly cartoon illustrations stylistically akin to Mike Lowery’s include racially diverse humans, but most wear nondescript Western attire, and their character designs do not relay the diversity of ethnicities represented in the idiom choices. Perplexingly, some illustrations actively misinterpret the phrase’s meaning.

It’s not perfect, but it holds appeal for casual perusal.