Translation: Rémy Dor
This is a very specific book that will mainly apply to specialists. Nonetheless, it may also interest those who are curious about foreign cultures, as it is focused on the enjoyable topic of riddles. Rather than « riddle », Rémy Dor chose the word « devinaille » (from the French word for riddle: devinette), because it immediately leads to action, either as a discovery tool, or as the result of guessing something, whereas the word « riddle » is linked to a childhood game. Here, it is serious, even essential to guess; otherwise you put yourself at risk. The conclusion is generally depreciating or threatening, and failing to discover the enigma can be punished severely.
Rémy Dor, university professor, linguist and ethnologist of the Turkish world, previously published at the Asiathèque in the “Bilingual L & M” collection five works devoted to various aspects of literary creation, oral or written tradition: lyric chantefables, tongue twisters, logogriphs, rhymes and riddles. He is a professor at Inalco.