The euphemistic role of the Ibibiod proverb-riddle

Abstract

The Ibibiod Proverb-riddle is a major aspect of the Ibibiod communication events. The nomenclature Proverb-riddle is controversial. Some have defined it verbally as a double riddle, a double proverb, a tonal riddle, a rhyming riddle and a two sentence proverb, etc. A Professor of Education, Umoh Susan (2007), proffers a definition which the essay prefers to use in the study. She explains that a proverb-riddle combines the properties of a proverb and a riddle. She describes the components of a Proverb-riddle as a Question (Q), Answer (A), Tone (T), and Rhythm (R). She goes further to justify the riddle component since it poses a question, and the proverb component since it provides the answer. She further explains that the same rising and falling pitch recurrence pattern is used in both Question and Answer components.