Meaning & Analysis
A young rooster learns its characteristic crow by listening to and imitating an older rooster.
Insights
Intergenerational Influence
Symbolizes the process by which children and the younger generation adopt the behaviors, values, and habits of their elders, particularly parents.
Power of Imitation
Illustrates the fundamental principle of social learning, where individuals, especially the impressionable, learn by observing and mimicking those around them.
Legacy of Behavior
Serves as a neutral observation that often carries a cautionary tone, suggesting that both positive traditions and negative traits are passed down from one generation to the next.
Psychological Modeling
This proverb is a folk expression of the psychological concept of observational learning, where behavior is acquired through imitation. It underscores that elders serve as powerful, often unconscious, role models for the young.
Moral and Didactic Function
Historically used as a moral warning to parents and community leaders, this proverb emphasizes their responsibility in setting a good example, as their actions will inevitably be replicated by the next generation.
Agricultural Symbolism
The use of the rooster, a potent symbol of pride, masculinity, and routine in agrarian society, grounds the proverb in a familiar, everyday context, making its social commentary on learned behavior more accessible.
Cultural Continuity
Beyond a simple warning, the proverb also speaks to the continuity of culture and tradition. Skills, language, and customs are preserved and propagated through this imitative process from the 'old' to the 'young'.
Rhetorical Devices
Animal Allegory
Uses the behavior of roosters as a simple yet effective allegory for the complex human process of social and generational learning.
Parallelism
The balanced structure ('The young... crows as the old hears') creates a memorable and rhythmic quality, reinforcing the cause-and-effect relationship between observing and doing.
Aural Imagery
The verbs 'crows' and 'hears' evoke strong auditory imagery, making the proverb’s message more vivid and easily pictured.
Transcription
Quotations
The young Cok lerneth to crowe hye of the olde.
Of an euyll father commethe neuer a good chylde. For as oure Englyshe prouerbe testifieth. The yonge cocke learne to crowe of the olde.
The yung cockerels, hearing thes ould cocks to crow so lustely, followid after with a cockaloodletoo.
As the olde cocke crowes so doeth the chick.
As the old cok croues the young cok leiris [learns].
(Wee say . . the young cocke).
(croweth as the old heareth).
(as he heareth the olde).
As the old cock crowes, the yong learnes.
[As in 1623 Cam.]
[As in 1614 Cam.]
[As in 1616 Dr.]
[As in a1598 Ferg.]
As the old cock crows, so crows the young (or so the young learns). *Ital.
[As in a1598 Ferg.]
*When old Age is evil, Youth can learn no good.
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.