Quelques remarques sur l’origine des proverbes

This study aims at a thorough examination of the parameters behind the emergence of a given proverb in a given language and at a given time. Proverbs, like lexical items or certain syntactic constructions, are born, develop and eventually disappear. Our reflection will start from the observation tha...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jean-Claude Anscombre
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3 2024-09-01
Series:Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/8153
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846132381168173056
author Jean-Claude Anscombre
author_facet Jean-Claude Anscombre
author_sort Jean-Claude Anscombre
collection DOAJ
description This study aims at a thorough examination of the parameters behind the emergence of a given proverb in a given language and at a given time. Proverbs, like lexical items or certain syntactic constructions, are born, develop and eventually disappear. Our reflection will start from the observation that the formulation the origin of proverbs is indeed extremely vague. A proverb is in fact the result of the action of several parameters: a) the sapiential lesson: every proverb rests fundamentally on an implicative pivot of the type ‘if you have P, you have Q’, either to apply it (Like father, like son), or to reject it (A swallow doesn’t make a summer). This sapiential lesson is linked to the culture and beliefs of the community concerned and may not exist in another culture; b) the metaphor used to represent P and Q: it is to be expected, for example, that a culture where the swallow has no relevant place will appeal to another metaphor to represent the sapiential lesson contained in A swallow does not make summer; c) the form of proverbs: studies of sententious forms show that proverbs are generally based on a small number of patterns - around a dozen - which strictly limit variations. These patterns are characteristic of a specific language or group of languages and make it possible to identify proverbs in a given language; d) finally, a significant number of proverbs show rhythmic and / or metrical structures in small numbers. The interesting point is that a sapiential form, even if it doesn’t have such a structure at first, always ends up acquiring one, as we will show with specific examples.
format Article
id doaj-art-41d671ddb4f746428ad66c3d747cccf3
institution Kabale University
issn 1951-6215
language English
publishDate 2024-09-01
publisher Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3
record_format Article
series Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology
spelling doaj-art-41d671ddb4f746428ad66c3d747cccf32024-12-09T14:52:26ZengUniversité Jean Moulin - Lyon 3Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology1951-62152024-09-012410.4000/12cvoQuelques remarques sur l’origine des proverbesJean-Claude AnscombreThis study aims at a thorough examination of the parameters behind the emergence of a given proverb in a given language and at a given time. Proverbs, like lexical items or certain syntactic constructions, are born, develop and eventually disappear. Our reflection will start from the observation that the formulation the origin of proverbs is indeed extremely vague. A proverb is in fact the result of the action of several parameters: a) the sapiential lesson: every proverb rests fundamentally on an implicative pivot of the type ‘if you have P, you have Q’, either to apply it (Like father, like son), or to reject it (A swallow doesn’t make a summer). This sapiential lesson is linked to the culture and beliefs of the community concerned and may not exist in another culture; b) the metaphor used to represent P and Q: it is to be expected, for example, that a culture where the swallow has no relevant place will appeal to another metaphor to represent the sapiential lesson contained in A swallow does not make summer; c) the form of proverbs: studies of sententious forms show that proverbs are generally based on a small number of patterns - around a dozen - which strictly limit variations. These patterns are characteristic of a specific language or group of languages and make it possible to identify proverbs in a given language; d) finally, a significant number of proverbs show rhythmic and / or metrical structures in small numbers. The interesting point is that a sapiential form, even if it doesn’t have such a structure at first, always ends up acquiring one, as we will show with specific examples.https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/8153Shakespearelexical patternsdiachronyparemiologyproverbsindo-european languages
spellingShingle Jean-Claude Anscombre
Quelques remarques sur l’origine des proverbes
Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology
Shakespeare
lexical patterns
diachrony
paremiology
proverbs
indo-european languages
title Quelques remarques sur l’origine des proverbes
title_full Quelques remarques sur l’origine des proverbes
title_fullStr Quelques remarques sur l’origine des proverbes
title_full_unstemmed Quelques remarques sur l’origine des proverbes
title_short Quelques remarques sur l’origine des proverbes
title_sort quelques remarques sur l origine des proverbes
topic Shakespeare
lexical patterns
diachrony
paremiology
proverbs
indo-european languages
url https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/8153
work_keys_str_mv AT jeanclaudeanscombre quelquesremarquessurloriginedesproverbes