Western countries consider proverbs as insignificant, but Kazakhstan views their proverbs as an integral part of their societal revitalization efforts. For Kazakhs, proverbs are the traditional resource for defining problems, making moral judgments and suggesting remedies (Tabıldıyev, Qazaq Etnopedagogıykacı [Kazakh ethnopedagogy], 2001). As a result, the Kazakhstani government looks to mandatory instruction in Kazakh proverbs to shape the nation (Kazakhstan, “Mädeni Mura” Memlekettik Baġdarlaması [“Cultural heritage” societal goals], 2004). As an anthropologist, I enjoy investigating the relationship between Kazakh proverbs and societal trends in Kazakhstan. There is a common sense assumption that proverbs tell us something about those who claim the given proverbs as their own. However, earlier proverb scholarship concerning national traits attempted to make statements about the society in general from a small set of proverbs (Robinson, “Irish Proverbs and Irish National Character,...
