Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

B41 — The talking dog.

82 Myths, legends and folktales

80 Unique narratives for motif B41

61 Cultures & traditions where B41 is told

1 Sub-motifs of motif B41

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Source data for narratives and traditions is drawn from Berezkin’s Analytical Catalogue. If you use this data, please acknowledge and link to it: Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.

Summary of motif

Overview

Because the dog spread certain information, argued with its owners, and spoke at inappropriate times, it lost the gift of speech.

Berezkin category: The Origins of the Characteristics of the environment

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 7, Etiology of plants and animals and of their peculiar features, particular animals as protagonists of cosmological stories, metamorphoses, weather and calendar.

B41 has 1 other sub-motifs

B41. Because the dog spread certain information, argued with its owners, and spoke at inappropriate times, it lost the gift of speech.
B41a. A dog or other domestic animal reveals details about its owners' lives that they would prefer to keep private; it is punished for this by losing its ability to speak.

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of B41’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
B41A	94.86%	A dog or other domestic animal reveals details about its owners' lives that they would prefer to keep private; it is punished for this by losing its ability to speak.
A11A	89.81%	The visible sun or moon are their eyes; if the eyes of the luminaries were not damaged, it would be much brighter and hotter.
I69	89.63%	Luminous celestial objects or atmospheric phenomena are bodily secretions of celestial beings.
F22	89.24%	The character asks a person of the opposite sex about the purpose of the part of the body used for sexual intercourse (usually after asking questions about other parts). Alternatively, the character tries out different parts of the body for sexual intercourse or for placing the genitals. Cf. motif M63.
C12B	88.98%	All people or individual ethnic groups, lineages, families are considered descendants of dogs (with which a man mated).
A16	88.65%	Every night, the sun passes by creatures or objects that try to swallow or destroy it.
F64B	88.59%	A woman pretends to be someone else in order to seduce her son, brother, daughter or grandson. See motif F64.
I8E1	87.25%	The sky or earth is supported by four objects or beings located at the four cardinal points (either four groups of beings, or four at the corners and a fifth in the centre). Th A841. See motifs 8A, 8D.
I45B	87.24%	If you point your finger or stare intently at a rainbow, you will fall ill, or the finger you pointed with will rot or wither away.
I26	87.03%	On its way to the other world, the soul must distract its guardians with gifts or defend itself from attack.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

61 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 61 traditions: Dinka, Atuot, Nuer, Masai, Sakata, Bushoong: (Ba)kuba, Dengese, Ngongo; Yansi, Fang (Pangwe), Eton, Bafia, Batanga, Benga, Bube (Bubi), Buheba, Yaunde (Ewondo), Yebekolo, Koko, Bulu, Beti (Beti-Bulu), Sekiani, Eghap, Cross-River: Efik, Ibibio, Anaang (Anang), Ikom, Abua, Mandingo (Manden, incl San, Samo), Kagoro, Bambara (Bamana), Malinke, Kassonke, Diula, Western Australia: Walmanjeri, Njolnjol (Njulnjul, Nyul-Nyul), Worora, Kariara (Karierra), Karadjari (Karadjeri, Garadjari), Djaberdjaber (Djaberadjabera), Ngarluma, Wiilman (Wheelman), Bibbulmum (Pebelman), Burong (Panaka), Papua-NewGuinea Highland Papuans:Trans New Guinea & unclassified:Chimbu,Gimi,KaugelHuli,Gadsup,Kuman,Kutubu,Foi (Foe),Kyaka,Kamano (Kafe),Mawatta,Kukukuku (=Anga,=Sambia;Manki,Nauti,Ejuti),Baruya,Kewa,Tembregak,Menya,Melpa,Wiru,Pondoma, Torricelli family: Valman, Samap, Arapesh (Upper, Coastal), Monumbo, Lilau, Ngaimbom; Moando (Banara); Menya, Olo, Melanesians of the northern coast New Guinea, nearest off-shore islands and Huon Gulf (Morobe district): Watut, Bilbil (Bilibili), Jabim (incl Kai), Tami, Bukawac, Wogeo, Tumleo, Yakamul, Manam, Sissano, Sio, Melanesians of Admiralty Islands (incl Manus); Seimat (Western Islands), Timor: Amarasi, Tetum, Meto, Atoni (incl Mollo), Kedang (Lomblen island), Leti Islands (Leti, Moa, Lakor), Mindanao and Sulu: Blaan (Bilaan), Bagobo, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Hiligáynon, Binukid, Magindaan (=Magindanao: main Muslim population), Mandaya, Mansaka, Manobo (Agusan, Ata, Dibabawon, Sarangani, Ilianen), Maranao, Samal, Subanon (=Subanun), Subanen, Tboli, Central Taiwan: Bunun (Vonum), La'arua, Tsou, Kanabu, Kanakanabu, Sora (Savara, Saora), Parenga, Eastern Arunachal Pradesh: Abor (incl Minyong, Shimong, Padam, Pasi, Panggi), Apa Tani (Apatani), Bori, Bugun, Dafla (=Nyishi, Nisi, Nishing, incl Tagin), Gallong (=Galo, Adi), Mishmi, Chin-Naga: Ao, Mao, Sema, Zeme, Kolren, Kom, Lhota, Rengma, Angami, Kabui, Tangkhul, Koirenf, Rawang, Dulong; Anong, Drung, Konds (Khonds; language is Kui, incl Kuttia, Konda-Dora), Koya; Pengo, Maria, Muria, and other South-Central Dravidians: Binjhwar, Bacop, Bhattra, Bom, Jhoria (=Jhodia), Gadaba (in Koraput, neighbors of Munda-speaking Gadaba), Duruwa (Parji), Mehtar; Pardhan, Lepcha, England, British, Bretons, Central Yakuts (Sakha), Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Tungus (Evenki) of China (Solon, Birar, Oroqen, Manegir), Evenks, Tungus (Evenki): Russian Far East, Evenks, Western Tungus (Evenki), Western Siberia Tungus (Evenki): Sym River, Ket River, Ainu, Oroch, Nanai, Tahltan, Western Ojibwa (Chippewa), Eastern Ojibwa (Missisauga, Timagami and other groups in eastern Ontario), Northern Ojibwa (=Severn Ojibwa, Sandy Lake Cree), Menominee, Blackfoot, Sarsee (Tsuu T'ina), Mandan, Kiowa, Plains Ojibwa, Caddo, Creek, Seminole; Tuskegee; iconography of Kentucky Hopewell, Kawaiisu, Ute, Zuni, Yuma proper (Quechan), Mohave, Maricopa, Popoloca; Tlapanec, Tepehua, Totonac, Gulf Nahuatl, Chontal, Zapotec, Chatino, Tzotzil, Tzeltal, Chol; pre-Columbian Mayan iconography outside of Yucatan, Sicuani, Ilimpii Tungus/Evenki, Yerbogachen Tungus/Evenki, Tungus/Evenki of Nercha - Chita area, Japan

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