Proverb as a genre of folk art

Аннотация

This article is devoted to learn proverbs from various angels. Proverbs are succinct, often metaphorical expressions of wisdom and morality, handed down through generations. They encapsulate cultural values, social norms, and collective experiences, making them an integral part of folk art. As a genre, proverbs serve multiple purposes: Cultural reflection, educational tool, oral tradition and communicative function. As a folk art form, proverbs are dynamic, adapting to changing contexts while retaining their core wisdom. Their universal appeal lies in their ability to condense life's complexities into relatable, timeless expressions. Key words: wisdom, morality, cultural values, social norms, folk art, oral tradition. Introduction: Proverbs have been considered as a form of the most concise folklore form but not the possibly straightforward among other verbal genres (legends, jokes, fairy tales, riddles and tall tales) for thousand years. A proverb, derived from the Latin term "proverbium," is a widely recognized and frequently repeated saying that conveys a complete thought. Proverbs articulate truths rooted in common sense or the practical experiences of individuals. They have played the primary guidance for people in terms of sharing experience, morality,wisdom in social interactions for centuries around the whole world. One of the vital roles of proverbs is to contain everyday observations and common experiences in formulaic form which can let them be rhetoric in both oral and verbal language or because of their rhetorical form it is super easy to remember them in conversations immediately. Moreover, they are the most effective form to use in daily interactions due to their figurative style. This case has happened since preliterate times, and obviously, our modern technological society cannot deny it either. Without any doubt, analyzing proverbs` origin is difficult as we have no information who transformed this first and how general public used it. Another fact why we are not apparently aware of their origin is that they were used in oral speech first and it appears difficulty to find its source. However, according to the content, analyzing their language and specific object, it might be possible to assume when these proverbs originated (Hrisztova-Gotthardt & Varga, 2015, 32). Various origins of proverbs in European languages, including English, have been found. Among the ancient classical writers, Aristotle was the pioneer in studying proverbs. Additional references to proverbs are identified in the works of Homer, Plato, Aristophanes, and others. Latin proverbs played a significant role in educational settings, particularly in school translation exercises, which facilitated their dissemination into other languages (Mieder, 2014, 13). During the Renaissance, Erasmus of Rotterdam greatly devoted to the proliferation and study of proverbs through his work "Adagia," a collection of proverbs accompanied by explanations and commentary. In Germany, Martin Luther's efforts were instrumental in the spread of proverbs. He translated traditional proverbs and created a lot of original German ancient proverbs, thereby enriching the vernacular wisdom literature. 187 Literature review: As Mieder claims that scholars have discussed the definition of proverbs from different angels during the centuries. These actions have been taken place from Aristotle to the modern time (Russo 1983, Kindstrand 1978), varying philosophical concerns to contemporary lexicographical considerations. Bartlett Jere Whiting (1904–1995) summarizes in his findings about the definition of proverbs and he affirms that,, A proverb is a saying that originates from the people and reflects its roots in its wording and structure. It conveys a basic truth, often presented in simple language that may include alliteration or rhyme. Proverbs are typically short, though they do not have to be, and while they are usually true, this is not always the case. Some proverbs can be understood both literally and figuratively, but many have only one clear meaning. A proverb should have an air of age and authenticity; it must show signs of being old, and ideally, it should be found in various places and times. However, we may overlook this requirement when examining very early texts, as our available material may be limited”. His friend Archer Taylor has a profound impact on the work of modern paremiologists who learn proverbs and their issues in linguistics extensively. His classical work deals with the issues of proverb definition, its types, metaphorical proverbs, proverbs in different fields: folk literature and narratives, origin of proverbs: biblical or classical, loan translations. Not only he learns how superstations impact on proverbs, but also he analyzes style and content of various proverb`s themes: medical, political and weather. There is no doubt that Taylor`s book about proverbs is considered the most effective and unique volume among other scholars