Journal of Asian Civilizations Vol. 38, No. 2, December 2015 165 -10- Understanding Pakhtun Society through Proverbs Ikram Badshah Sarfraz Khan Abstract Current research was conducted in the village Toru in District Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The main objective of this research was to understand Pakhtun society through matal (proverbs) with special emphasis on Tarboorwali (agnatic rivalry) and cousin marriages. Tarboorwali (agnatic rivalry) and cousin marriages are indispensable part of Pakhtun culture. People express their distinct cultural identity and ideal Pakhtun behaviour through the expression of proverbs on various occasions. So, with the help of proverbs one can easily understand the worldview and perceptions of the people about Pakhtun customs, traditions, social institution, the ideology, and belief system. The matals were used as a daily activity and were interpreted in the socio-cultural context to understand the way of thinking and behaving. One can easily understand the feelings, aspirations, and customs and traditions of the Pakhtuns and how all these become meaningful in social discourse. One can understand the significance of social institutions such as Tarboorwali (agnatic rivalry) and cousin marriages by interpreting matals through discourse analysis. Introduction In Pakhtun society, proverbs occupy a special place in oral literature and are the most widely used for all folklore (Tair and Edwards, 1982; Akhtar, 1997). Rather than relics of the past, Pashto proverbs are still widely spoken and play an important role in the everyday lives of Pakhtuns. A wiser man is considered to be the one who speaks more proverbs (Khattak, 2006). Pashto proverbs are found in textbooks, newspapers, and are spoken in radio programs and in television dramas, as well as in daily conversations in the bazzar and at homes, between and among men and women (Bartlotti and Khattak, 2006). Proverbs can be heard in political speeches as well in political commentaries, in a situation of social conflict and in aggravated family arguments. The use of proverbs makes these not