Proverbs: Still waters runs deep

The monsoon is here.

It's been raining everyday.

I really enjoy the rain this time around.

I usually would be affected and feel a bit depressed when it rain continuously for days non stop but somehow this year, I've felt a sense of enjoyment.

I'm sorry that our friends in the state of Kedah and Perlis have been experiencing uncharacteristically unusual flood this year.






With rain and water in my mind, I've been preoccupied with an English proverb: Still waters runs deep.

The proverbs has the following meaning:

"Still waters run deep."


Some rivers have rough surfaces with waves. That's usually because the water is shallow and there are rocks near the surface. But deep rivers have no rocks near the surface and the water is smooth and still. "Still waters run deep" means that people who are calm and tranquil on the outside, often have a strong, "deep" personality.


* still (adjective) = calm, motionless
* deep (adjective) = going far down






Source: http://www.englishclub.com/reading/proverbs-meaning.htm



When thinking and searching for equivalent proverbs in Bahasa Melayu, the first one that came to mind was "Air yang tenang,jangan disangka tiada buaya".

Off course, my parallel thinking mind was still on water track! LOL

Even though the subject is the same, that is "still water", however the meaning are not the same.

The Bahasa Melayu proverbs can be directly translated as "when the water is still, don't think that there aren't crocodiles around". ==> Don't assume that there aren't any crocodiles around, even if there appear to be no ripples on the surface of the water.



An explanation from a blogger:


"Air yang tenang jangan disangka tiada buaya"


Merujuk lebih kepada sifat seseorang. Yang mana seseorang yang kita lihat baik dari segalanya, itu yang kita nampak. Tetapi sifat sebenar orang tersebut kita tidak ketahui.


Selalunya bidalan ini digunakan sebagai amaran kepada seseorang terhadap seseorang yang lain.




Source: http://bidalan.blogspot.com/2009/03/air-yang-tenang-jangan-disangka-tiada.html




Essentially, it serves as a warning of a person's character. Even though a person appear to be nice or well mannered but he or she might be an unscrupulous person.

The English proverbs however alludes that a quiet person or a person who normally doesn't have much to say doesn't mean that he has nothing to say but he may know more than the rest.

In conclusion, while the English proverbs refers to a person's intelect, the Bahasa Melayu proverbs refers to a person's character or behaviour.



So, what is the equivalent proverbs in Bahasa Melayu for the English proverbs "Still waters runs deep"?

In my opinion, the Bahasa Melayu proverbs that says "Diam Ubi tapi berisi" can aptly explain the meaning of the English proverb, "Still waters runs deep".








Direct translation of the Bahasa Melayu proverbs would be "A yam doesn't make any sound but yields lots of flesh"

The word "Ubi" can means yam, potatoes, tapioca or the type of tuber plants the yield fleshy roots.


Literally, it means a person who keeps a low profile has much to contribute.



Meanwhile the English proverbs: "Don't judge a book by its' cover" is more closely related to the Bahasa Melayu proverbs "Air yang tenang jangan disangka tiada buaya".



Instead of just one equivalent proverbs, now we have two!




As I've always stressed to students in the writing class, try your best to make use of proverbs in your writing, especially in the conclusion paragraph. The normal words of caution that goes with it ...Just make sure you are using appropriate proverbs! Too often, unappropriately used proverbs would make the paragraph or essay less effective.



ummabdrahmaan
14:19 pm
Saturday
3rd day of Tashriek 1431H