Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
B41A — Animals tell about the lives of their owners.
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
OverviewA 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.
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
RelatedB41. 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.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| B41 | 94.86% | Because the dog spread certain information, argued with its owners, and spoke at inappropriate times, it lost the gift of speech. |
| A11A | 88.16% | The visible sun or moon are their eyes; if the eyes of the luminaries were not damaged, it would be much brighter and hotter. |
| I26 | 88.00% | On its way to the other world, the soul must distract its guardians with gifts or defend itself from attack. |
| I8E1 | 86.82% | 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. |
| C12B | 85.94% | All people or individual ethnic groups, lineages, families are considered descendants of dogs (with which a man mated). |
| I13A | 85.72% | A huge aquatic or celestial serpent, dragon, or snake-like creature with horns on its head. |
| F64B | 85.44% | A woman pretends to be someone else in order to seduce her son, brother, daughter or grandson. See motif F64. |
| I9 | 85.13% | Each (or at least three) of the four cardinal directions (as well as the zenith and nadir) and/or the objects located there have their own colour. Abbreviations: E: east, S: south, W: west, N: north. (Cf. Podosinov 2000: 143-147). |
| K1I | 84.42% | Near the cliff, at the bottom of the pit, or in the underworld, a tree, reed, or vine grows, which the character uses to descend or climb to the ground. |
| C7 | 84.16% | Initially or after the flood, an earthen or stone barrier, the body of a character or creature prevents the flow of water. Later, this barrier is removed or destroyed. |
See the 100 most similar distributions →
Map of motif dispersal
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Traditions
18 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 18 traditions: Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong, Western Australia: Walmanjeri, Njolnjol (Njulnjul, Nyul-Nyul), Worora, Kariara (Karierra), Karadjari (Karadjeri, Garadjari), Djaberdjaber (Djaberadjabera), Ngarluma, Wiilman (Wheelman), Bibbulmum (Pebelman), Burong (Panaka), 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, Central Taiwan: Bunun (Vonum), La'arua, Tsou, Kanabu, Kanakanabu, Viet, Muong, 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, Konds (Khonds; language is Kui, incl Kuttia, Konda-Dora), Koya; Pengo, Lepcha, Blackfoot, Mandan, Creek, Seminole; Tuskegee; iconography of Kentucky Hopewell, Kawaiisu, Ute, Zuni, Tzotzil, Sicuani, Papua-New Guinea Southern Lowland Papuan groups (Trans New Guinea and unclassified): Gimi, Kiwai, Bina, Mawabula, Mawatta, Keraki, Gambadi (incl. Kwavaru), Purari River delta, Masingara, Wiram (=Suki), Ngain, Daga, Elema
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