PROVERBS AND SAYINGS IN ENGLISH: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION, AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
Abstract
Proverbs and sayings represent a vital part of any language’s cultural and linguistic heritage. They encapsulate traditional wisdom, social norms, and shared values in fixed, memorable forms. This article examines the structural features, semantic properties, and pragmatic functions of proverbs and sayings in English. It explores their role in communication, cultural transmission, and stylistic variation. Drawing from linguistic theory and cross-cultural analysis, the study highlights the differences and similarities between proverbs, sayings, and other phraseological units. Examples from English, Uzbek, and Russian illustrate how these expressions serve as tools for moral instruction, humor, persuasion, and social bonding. The findings reveal that proverbs are more than decorative elements—they are cognitively rich and pragmatically effective linguistic tools.
Keywords
Proverbs, sayings, folk wisdom, cultural identity, phraseology, pragmatic meaning
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