TT VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND ENTERNATIONAL STUDEES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES NGUYEN THI BICH TRANG TOWARDS BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND USING ENGLISH PROVERBS IIVONG TOI VIEC DIEU VA SU DUNG TUC NGU TIENG ANIT TOT IION M. thesis — program I Field: english linguistics Code: 602215 TIanoi, 2008 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES NGUYÊN THỊ BÍCH TRANG TOWARDS BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND USING ENGLISH PROVERBS IIVONG TOT VIEC HHEU VA SU DUNG TUC NGU TIENG ANIT TOT LION M. thesis — program I Field: english linguistics Code: 602215 Supervisor: Assoc.Dr Phan Van Qué Hanoi, 2008 THE TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PART A: INTRODUCTION 1. Objectives of the study 3.
Scope of the study 4, Methods of the study 4.3, Supporting methods PART B: DEVELOPMENT Chapter T: Literature Review 11. Origin of proverbs 1. Definitions of proverbs 1. The definition of proverbs in the literature L 2.1, An open or implied denial of the possibility of defining proverbs 1.
A proverb is identical with its text 1, 3. More complex definitions 1, 3.1, The necessary and sufficient conditions of a proverb definition 1. The proposed definition 1. The main types of proverbs 12.
A note on the content of proverbs 1. Differences between proverbs and other related terms 1. Differenocs between proverbs and idioms 13. Differences between “proverbs” and “ca dao” 14, Characteristics of proverbs 1.3, Function Chapter I: Factors leading (o difficulties in understanding and using English proverbs ILL.
Difference in culture ILL.1, Definitions of culture IL1.2, Differences between English culture and Victnamese culture 11. Differences in using melaphor in English and Vietnamese proverbs 11.1, English and Vietnamese amimal system in proverbs in comparison In the 12" century, Mathieu de Vend«me (quoted by Bautier 1984) wrote “A proverb is a papular phrase, accredited by custom accepted by the general opinion, expressing a truth that has been proved genuine”. In 1932, Bertlett Jere Whiting gave the following description: “4 proverd an expression which, owing its birth to people, testifies its origin in form and phrase. It expresses what is apparently a fundamental truth, - that is a truism- in homely language, often adorned, however, with alliteration and rhyme.
It is usually short, but need not to he; i is usually true but need not to be. Some proverbs have both literal and figurative meaning, either of which makes perfect sense; but more often they have but one of the two.A proverb must be venerable; it must bear the sign of antiquity, and, since such signs may he counterfeited by a clever literary man, it should be attested in different places and different times. 302) Many previous definitions are sted in Whiting’s mentioned paper, in the book of Lutz Rohrich and Wolfgang Mieder (Robrich-Mieder £972). 55 “popular” definitions have been collected by Wolfgang Mieder in 1985 and the recent paper of Peter Barta should also be mentioned in this context.
(Barta 1995) Tf a classification of the proverb definitions is attempted, the [ollowing main calegories can be distinguished. An open or implied denial of the possibility of defining proverbs Archer Taylor slates that, “The definition of a proverh is too difficult to repay the undertaking. an incommunicable quality tells us this sentence is proverbial and that other is noi”. (Taylor 1931) Needless to say, such an incommunicable quality docs not exist.
In 1996, during a discussion of the Tokyo InlernaGional Proverb Forum, professor Mieder mentioned that Archer Taylor has probably considered it a joke. Unfortunately, it has been taken seriously and 1s quoted over and over again, as it was done in Tokyo too. It might be enough to mention that not a mysterious “incommunicable quality”, but among other- the curreney decides that a sentence is a proverb or not. Lf we change only one word, e.g, the word “gold” in the English proverb “All that glitters is not gold” to diamond, then it is not an Lnglish proverb any more, although all the so-called “makers” would indicate it as such.
Its currency is zero, it is not told so in this form. Matti Kuusi’s well-known statement that the proverbs are “documenta humana” belongs to the same category: Thus the proverbs are defined by an undefined term, implying the possibility of defining proverbs Malcolm Jones openly proposes a tautology involving an implied possibility of definition: “y shall take refuge in the tautology that a proverb is an expression we recognize as a proverbial”. A proverb is identical with its text Some examples «© “A proverb isa short sontence of wisdom”. (quoted by Mieder 1989.
p15) © “A proverb is a standard statement of moral and colloquial imperatives in fixed metaphorical paradigmatic form, it deals with fundamental logical relationships”.741) « “A proverb is a general statement or judgement, explaining, classifying or assessing a silualion”. (Harald Burger, quoted by W.2) « “A traditional propositional statement consisting of at least one descriptive element consisting ofa topic and a comment”. (Dundes 1975) © “Proverbs are popular fixed sentences expressing a nile of conduct or a wisdom in a vivid, short form” (Rohrich-Mieder 1977.2) Tt has, however, been pointed out repeatedly that eg. “two major ingredients.
traditionality and currency should be part of any definition” (Mieder 1996.597) The importance of the implied general meaning (general idea) was stressed by Matti Kuusi (Kuusi 1996) and Vilmos Voigt (Voigt 1970) ‘The implied scope and limitation of application has been mentioned before (Paczolay 1996. More complex definitions In addition to the definition of Whiting given previously, as examples some definitions are mentioned that include several, sometimes frequent, but not absolutely necessary characteristics, like poetic form, while important ones, like currency or the absence of a known author are missing. Some examples: “A short pithy saying in common and recognized use. a concise sentence often metaphorical or alliterative in form, which is held to express some truth ascertained by experience or observation familiar to all, an adage, a wise saw” (Whiting 1932) « “A proverb is a popular set phrase having no author, known mostly in different languages, expressing in one sentence a principle, advice, a genuine or assumed truth in a general, concise form, its basic idea being of general validity, or at least its user considers it as such”.645) “Where do proverbs come from?” is a question which is certainly still in the forefront of debate today, yet, it remains comtroversial and no one can answer for sure.
‘hus, it is no easy task to clearly point out the origin of proverbs. L, therefore, propose accepting what many researchers in some most well- researched books agree. According to Vietnamese authors, there are two theories about the occurrence of proverbs. «© The first theory: Proverbs were composed by poets.
+ The second theory: Proverbs were created by unknown folk authors. We can see clearly that the mumber of proverbs oreated by folk authors outweighs the number of proverbs composed by poets if these two theories are true According to English authors, there are three theories about the occurrence of proverbs. © The first theory: an excellent man spoke and spread the words to the general people ø The second theory: Old people who decided morals and virtues created proverbs. © The third theory generally: Proverbs began that we stipulate the act of daily life from our experience and proverbs are useful to each of culture and social education.
‘The truth is still not known, but the third theory seems the most appropriate. Definitions of proverbs 2.1, Introduction: The collection of proverbs dates back to millennia, to Sumerian cuneiform tablets, and the theory of proverbs has also a long history. Many papers have been published eg. on the origin, definition, use, classification, structure, language, logic, meaning of proverbs etc.
In this paper some aspects of the definition of proverbs will be dealt with and some notes on the main types and content of proverbs will be presented 12. The definition of proverbs in the literature In the corresponding papers many definitions can be found. Professor Mieder in one of his papers with admilled overslatement- puts that “We can almost state that there are more definition attempts than there are proverbs” (Mieder 1989, p.) “Where do proverbs come from?” is a question which is certainly still in the forefront of debate today, yet, it remains comtroversial and no one can answer for sure. ‘hus, it is no easy task to clearly point out the origin of proverbs.
L, therefore, propose accepting what many researchers in some most well- researched books agree. According to Vietnamese authors, there are two theories about the occurrence of proverbs. «© The first theory: Proverbs were composed by poets. + The second theory: Proverbs were created by unknown folk authors.
We can see clearly that the mumber of proverbs oreated by folk authors outweighs the number of proverbs composed by poets if these two theories are true According to English authors, there are three theories about the occurrence of proverbs. © The first theory: an excellent man spoke and spread the words to the general people ø The second theory: Old people who decided morals and virtues created proverbs. © The third theory generally: Proverbs began that we stipulate the act of daily life from our experience and proverbs are useful to each of culture and social education. ‘The truth is still not known, but the third theory seems the most appropriate.
Definitions of proverbs 2.1, Introduction: The collection of proverbs dates back to millennia, to Sumerian cuneiform tablets, and the theory of proverbs has also a long history. Many papers have been published eg. on the origin, definition, use, classification, structure, language, logic, meaning of proverbs etc. In this paper some aspects of the definition of proverbs will be dealt with and some notes on the main types and content of proverbs will be presented 12.
The definition of proverbs in the literature In the corresponding papers many definitions can be found. Professor Mieder in one of his papers with admilled overslatement- puts that “We can almost state that there are more definition attempts than there are proverbs” (Mieder 1989, p.1, Animal components in English 1. Aninal componenis in Vietame 112. Aninal components in Vietamnese and English in common 1.
Animal components existing only in English 12. Animal components existing only in Vietnamese 1L3. Difference in rhythm and rhyme 113. Rhythm A Rhythm of English proverbs 1.
Factors creating rhythm 2. Types of rhythm 3. Function of rhythm B. Rhythm of Vietnamese proverbs 1.
Factors creating rhythm Ld. Types of rhythm 3. Function of rhythm 3. Meaning-expressing function 3.
Rhyme of proverbs 36 1. Factors creating rhyme 1. ‘the repetition phenomena 36 1. Vietnamese proverbs 38 TLA4.
Difficulties int translating Fnylish proverbs into Vielnamese ones 40 Chapter ITT: Imptications towards better proverb translation 46 TT. How to wanslaic English proverbs ilo Viclnamesc ones 46 successfully TIL2. Victnamese equivalent can be found 46 TIL3. Vielnamnesc equivalent cannot be found 48 11.
We ear add or omit. words to create thyme ( rhyme in suscession, 48 thyme in separation, relative rhyme or perfect rhyme) III. Creazing rhyme by repeating » 49 TIL3. The proverb can be transialed ilo a.
Vietruamese six-cight meter 49 11. Creating two equal, parallel clause 50 11. Making tone symmetrical 51 PART C: CONCLUSION 53 PART D: BIBLIOGRAPLLY 54 Malcolm Jones openly proposes a tautology involving an implied possibility of definition: “y shall take refuge in the tautology that a proverb is an expression we recognize as a proverbial”. A proverb is identical with its text Some examples «© “A proverb isa short sontence of wisdom”.
(quoted by Mieder 1989. p15) © “A proverb is a standard statement of moral and colloquial imperatives in fixed metaphorical paradigmatic form, it deals with fundamental logical relationships”.741) « “A proverb is a general statement or judgement, explaining, classifying or assessing a silualion”. (Harald Burger, quoted by W.2) « “A traditional propositional statement consisting of at least one descriptive element consisting ofa topic and a comment”.
