Proverbs and their social aspects

Katalin Ziegler

Eötvös Lóránd University

 

Language is related to several things and aspects like time, but most importantly to people and society. For example, “meaning and memory, believing and knowing, are social practices that vary as they are embedded within different Discourses within a society” (Gee, 1992, p. 141). A proverb is something in which meaning and memory are connected. They mirror meaning and the human memory. One may use them without thinking about it because they became important elements of our lexicon. Proverbs are part of our society and our everyday colloquial speech and also of formal expressions. They make our language rich and the message apt. They are short, witty, sometimes rhymed. Some proverbs are shared among different nations, but generally every nation has its own proverbs as well. As society is constantly changing, proverbs have changed too. These basic features point to the fact that proverbs can be examined according to different aspects which are studied in this essay.

The first and most significant aspect is the history of proverbs because one can observe them in more detail. The reason for this is that “they are old, they have been widely used, they embody popular attitudes and, not least, in a long line of printed collections, beginning in the sixteenth century, they have been recorded” (Burke & Porter, 1987, p. 43). Proverbs were not recorded until the invention of printing since they were used in speech. After that they started to be recorded and collected. At the time people’s thinking was influenced by religion so it is no surprise that a lot of them originate from The Bible, for example: “A prophet is without honor in his own country”( Litovkina, 2000, p. 7). This proverb has been contextualized in a different way and therefore it is perfectly abstracted from this original source. As a result, speakers use them in their particular contexts. Other examples can be used the same way because their meanings are valid regardless of the fact in which century they are used, for instance, “No man can serve two masters” or “Love your neighbour as yourself”(Litovkina, 2000, p. 7).

Another important step in the changes of proverbs is that a number of them are of Latin origin. The Roman Empire was expanded in a considerable part of Europe. That is why several Latin proverbs can be found in a lot of languages all over Europe. Some common examples are: “A friend in need is a friend indeed. (lat. Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur)”; “All that glitters is not gold. (lat. Non omne quod nitet, aurum est)”;“Better late than never. (lat. Potius sero quam nunquam)”(Litovkina, 2000, p. 2).

In the 18^th and 19^th century society changed. It was shaped by social and industrial revolutions, and the idea of nationalism.  As a result, the individual nations wanted to distinguish themselves from one another. Language was influenced as well and due to this consciousness and the examination of language use reforms were born. Proverbs also took part in that because “as the transmitters of national and regional wisdom, proverbs were also part of the cultural heritage, or heritages”(Knappe, 2004, p. 68). Consequently, proverbs started to play a more important role. In Britain, an example of this is the one of Scotland and England. Knappe (2004) comments on some differences in these territories: “The proverb He does one face to God and another to the devil, for instance, seems to exist in the Scottish tradition only” (p. 69). That conforms to the above assumption about nationality and social change.

Nevertheless, proverbs can be viewed as something less specific, in the society they are used by different groups of people that may differ in nationality. However, these people are all human beings that share some features regardless of which language they speak or where they are from. There are things which are similar and general despite these differences. Hence proverbs can be arranged on the basis of a different aspect, which is how they are used. One can collect many examples according to their domains, for instance, accepting the challenges and the changes of life: “Good and bad go in cycles.”; a similar instance is “Everything’s for the best.”; the phrases “We take life as it comes.” and “We must make the best of it” are frequently used too (Burke & Porter, 1987, p. 47). Another example is when something is expected from somebody but it turns out that this person does not change so we are disappointed: “The leopard does not change its spots”; and “Boys will be boys”; or “Don’t cry over spilt milk” (Burke & Porter, 1987, p. 51). Proverbs are also used in the case of different situations when one needs to be encouraged: “When there’s a will there’s a way”; “Failure teaches success”; “You never know what you can do till you try” (Burke & Porter, 1987, p. 53). Just like topics concerning life and our world, there is an immense set of further examples.

Having seen these changes and the social aspect of proverbs, their use is likely to continue to change or new ones may be formed. It is up to people and society since they are the ones who shape language use, including proverbs. One thing is for sure: proverbs are useful and precious elements of language and human experience, they are full of wisdom and humour that has been recorded throughout history and time.

 

References

Gee, J. (1992).The Social Mind: Language, Ideology, and Social Practice. New York: Begin & Garvey.

Burke, P., & Porter, R. (1987).The social history of language. Worchester: Cambridge University Press.

Litovkina, A. (2000). A proverb a day keeps boredom away. Pécs-Szekszárd: IPF-Könyvek.

Knappe, G. (2004). Idioms and fixed expressions in English language study before 1800. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.

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