AbstractThis paper takes an emic approach to the study of proverbs. The focus is on the use of proverbs among the Chewa People and what these proverbs mean to them. A proverb, apart from being a linguistic sign with a literal interpretation, has other communication functions. Among other things, the Chewa use proverbs to define social parameters between the speaker and the hearer. They are also used to justify actions that would ordinarily be socially objectionable. In this sense proverbs have a self-fulfilling power and the Chewa utilize this power to assert their authority on societal traditions. Generally, the proverbs portray the society from men's perspective and as such very few proverbs portray women in favourable terms.