El lenguaje proverbial en la novela Entorno de la Torre Blanca, por Enrique Saporta y Beja

Abstract

The article examines the function of proverbial language in Entorno de la Torre Blanca, a novel by Enrique Saporta y Beja, regarded as the last written by a native Judeo-Spanish speaker. The book, presented as a novelized memoire, revives the customs, stories, and traditions of the Sephardic Jews in Salonika from the early twentieth century through World War I, weaving genres such as romances, ballads, and proverbs into the narrative. The analysis emphasizes how proverbs, naturally embedded in the story, not only enrich the cultural and linguistic register but also transmit values and collective memory, transforming the novel into an invaluable folkloric and wisdom repository.

Key words: Enrique Saporta y Beja, novel, Thessaloniki, Judeo-Spanish, proverbs.