Research work «COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS of PROVERBS and SAYINGS of the ENGLISH and RUSSIAN LANGUAGES»

Content

Introduction 3-5

Main body 5-14

Conclusion 15

Literature 16

Enclosure 17-18

Introduction

In our days we store and share information in a variety of ways: orally, in writing or through electronic media. But earlier, before the advent of writing and especially electronic media, people used the simplest and most accessible method of communication - language. And here we are talking not only to convey the conversation, but express our attitude to what are talking: happy and angry, assure and doubt, and all this with the help of words, the combination of which creates new shades of thoughts and feelings, is an artistic phrase, and poetic miniatures.

It is through language contact occurs with the mentality and lifestyle of the people of the country of the target language, conveys the nature of thinking, outlook, worldview. To know a language means to experience the richness and depth of culture of the people, of the people – carrier of a given language. This requires entering the space of this culture, understanding its values and ideals.

Taking the language for the organic creation of the people's thoughts and feelings, which are expressed the results of the spiritual life, we understand why in the language of each nation is expressed in a special character, why the language is the best feature of the people. Best and only sure remedy to penetrate into the nature of people is to learn its language, and the deeper we entered into the language of the people, the deeper became his character.

The language is able to create a verbal illusion, which, in turn, play an important role in creating national stereotypes. For example: French gallantry, courtesy; German punctuality, accuracy, responsibility; English restraint; Italian effusiveness, impetuosity, sociability; Russian generosity, Russian hospitality. Thus, we can say that national character is a set of specific physical and spiritual qualities, norms of behavior and activity, typical for members of one or another nation.

We, like Mikhail Sholokhov, believe that none of the forms of linguistic creativity of the people with such force and so many not manifest his mind, so crystal is not reflected in its national history, social structure, everyday life, worldview, as in proverbs. The same idea is stressed by M. I. Dubrovin: "The wisdom and spirit of the people manifested in his sayings and proverbs, and knowledge of proverbs and sayings of a people contributes not only to a better knowledge of the language, but also a better understanding of the mindset and character of the people."

The study of proverbs and sayings can contribute to the understanding of the mentality and national character of the natives, opens a direct access to vast spiritual wealth of the nation, serves as an extra window to the world, an important means of understanding and interaction of people.

Proverbs has great educational value, they reproduce the picture of life of the people, reflect the mentality of the people. In an age of sound sense and folk wisdom, rooted in the distant past. Often the same folk wisdom is expressed in different people in different words, but its essence does not change. The use of proverbs in speech is making it more colorful and expressive. It defies literal translation. By studying proverbs, we are studying and our own language, learn about the history, life and culture of the people, all this causes the relevance of this study.

The object of research: proverbs and sayings of the English and Russian languages.

Subject of research: identification of differences of proverbs and sayings in English and Russian languages.

The purpose of the study: based on the comparative analysis of proverbs in English and Russian languages to identify the possibility of transfer from one to another.

This purpose will help to solve the following tasks:

• consider what proverbs and identify their values;

• to conduct a comparative analysis, consider proverbs in English with proverbs in the Russian language.

Research methods:

• study and analysis of literature on this topic;

• comparative analysis of proverbs and sayings in English and Russian.

To identify this purpose we make the following hypothesis: there are differences in the meaning of proverbs in English and Russian and therefore impossible a literal translation from one language to another.

Main body

1. Proverbs as a genre of oral national creativity

Proverbs are brief, often rhythmic sayings that have both literal and figurative plan or only the figurative plan, and represents a grammatical relation in complete sentences and expressing some conclusions. They relate to the speech genres of folklore, as it does not come true specifically, such as tales and songs, and are used in colloquial speech, among other things, incidentally, for the word. The proverb in generalized form states properties of people or phenomena, gives them a valuation or prescribes a course of action. Their purpose is in brief formulas to express the relation of the people to various life phenomena. The content of proverbs is specifically. All together they reflect a life fuller than any other genre of folklore. The subjects of works of other genres (fairy tales, historical songs) to some extent limited, and the themes of proverbs are literally limitless. They represent a complete sentence, which are not semantic notions, and judgments. The study of proverbs from a linguistic point of view is the subject of phraseology.

Linguists speak of Proverbs as poetic is widely used in speech, steady, brief, often shaped multivalued, having a figurative meaning sayings. Syntactically they are framed as suggestions, often rhythmically organised. V.I.Dahl says about Proverbs: "Proverbs is a genre of folklore, aphoristically concise, imaginative, logical and grammatically complete utterance with instructive meaning in rhythmically organized form."

In the proverb contains a conclusion, a generalization. Scientists believe that the first proverbs were associated with the need to fix in the mind of man, society some unwritten tips, rules, customs, laws. They said: "Remember the bridge well transportation". And that meant: don't forget, going on the road, to bring money in the crossings, near bridges charge a fee. — They taked notice: if snowless March, and may is rainy, there will be harvests, and they said: "a dry March and a wet May makes the bread good.” They reminded: "between — and yours, and mine" that was linked to the right to land ownership.

Thus, they adopted, remembered and used what was close-minded, because proverbs and sayings were created by all the peoples.

1. Differences and similarities in the Proverbs and sayings

In practice sayings is often confused with proverbs. These two terms are perceived by the majority as synonymous, denoting the same linguistic and poetic phenomenon. But it is important not to equate them, to see not only the similarities but also the differences between them.

When distinguishing between proverbs and sayings it is necessary to consider, first, their common binding features distinguishing proverbs and sayings from other works of folk art, secondly, the general signs, but not required, bonding and separating them simultaneously, and, third, the characteristics differentiating them.

Common essential features of proverbs and sayings linguists include: brevity (conciseness), stability (ability to reproduce), the relationship with speech (proverbs and sayings in their natural form exist only in speech), belonging to the art of the word, wide coined by.

But what are the signs that can clearly distinguish between proverbs and sayings? These features have already been mentioned repeatedly by many generations of scientists. It is the general nature of the content of proverbs and their exemplariness, edification.

In the first half of the twentieth century connoisseur of proverbs M. A. Rybnikova wrote: "The Proverb defines many similar phenomena. "All of Cooper, but a few thank", this judgment says about the skill of the Cooper, but if you think that the saying only this, we will deprive the proverb of its generalizing. This proverb speaks of the quality of work in general, it can be applied to the teacher, tractor driver, a weaver, the engineer, pilot, soldier, etc."

These two characteristics define the peculiarities of Proverbs when comparing it with the proverb, and which is devoid of a generalizing sense, and instructive. Sayings do not generalize, no one is prepared. They rightly wrote VI Dahl, "The saying - roundabout expression, carrying it, a simple allegory, in plain terms, a way of expression, but without a parable, without judgment, conclusion, application ... Saying replaces only direct speech in a roundabout, do not agree sometimes and does not name things, but conventionally, it is very clear hints".

The purpose of the Proverbs - as vividly as possible, to describe some phenomenon or object of reality, to decorate it. "A saying is a flower, a proverb — berry", — said the people. We have both — well, there is a link between them, but there is a significant difference.

Sayings, as a rule, are used for the figurative-emotional characteristics of people, their behavior, some everyday situations. A lot of sayings for all occasions... We don't like someone, and he's skinny and we say "how skinny horsetail" («Тощ как хвощ»). About living satisfying, richly, happily say: "As cheese in butter rolls around" (Как сыр в масле катается).

Proverbs and sayings are the most ancient genres of oral national creativity. It's known to all peoples of the world, including lived a long time ago, BC — the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans. The earliest monuments of old Russian literature has reported information on the existence of proverbs and sayings of our ancestors. In the "Tale of bygone years", ancient records which recorded a number of Proverbs: "Not a place to head and head to the place" (Не идет место к голове, а голова к месту), "The world stands up to host, and host to the world"( Мир стоит до рати, а рать-до мира) and others.

Some proverbs, sayings, bearing upon it the stamp of time, are taken outside of the historical context in which they arise, and often we are modernizing their, without thinking about the ancient meaning.

3. Comparative analysis of the use of Proverbs

3.1. Areas of use of proverbs and sayings

For our study the most interesting phraseological expressions, as they include proverbs and sayings, which are popular, or colloquial language Foundation and most fully reflect the life of the people. And in Russian, and in English proverbs are expressions of popular wisdom, this is the rulebook of life, practical philosophy, and historical memory. They focused their content almost exclusively on man – his character traits, actions, relationships in the family, the community and society. So among the proverbs it is possible to highlight the thematic group of proverbs about love and friendship, honesty, laziness, the mind, and proverbs, reflecting the life of the people, although the precise boundaries between clusters can be arbitrary. As Russian proverbs and sayings, in English, also divided into three classes on character of motivation.

The first class includes Proverbs and sayings with vivid motivation, their overall importance should not be directly from the meanings of the words comprising them and related to them only figuratively (having only allegorical, figurative meaning):

It is the foolish sheep that makes the wolf his confessor –Глупа та овца, что исповедуется волку.

A black hen lays a white egg –Черная курица несет белое яйцо.

Two dogs over one bone seldom agree - Две собаки над одной костью редко договариваются.

The fox may grow grey, but never good - Лиса может сменить цвет своей шкуры на серый, но никогда не станет хорошей.

The second class includes clichés with direct motivation, their integrated value is directly connected with the meaning of their constituent words (non-allegorical, a portable sense):

Live and learn –век живи, век учись.

Better untaught than ill taught - лучше быть неученым, чем неправильно ученым;

Many men, many mind - сколько голов, столько и умов.

The third class - inconsistent (can be used both literally and figuratively):

A person is known by the company he keeps - Скажи, кто твой друг и я скажу, кто ты.

A picture paints a thousand words - Лучше один раз увидеть, чем сто раз услышать

All that glitters is not gold –Не все золото, что блестит.

In English, as in Russian, there are also proverbs with a non-standard way, the essence of which is difficult to understand from the proverbs, as the words contained in it do not have such a figurative meaning in any other case, their use in the English language, and therefore do not cause any specific associations: Between the devil and deep blue sea, literal translation: Между чертом и глубоким синим морем. Russian equivalent: Между двух огней; The indivisible meaning of these sayings could be interpreted in the sense of their constituent words and their explanation, as in the Russian language, you must contact the original source.

Examine Proverbs in Russian and English languages. About how many other areas of life and situations they do not speak, do not teach! We amounted to a classification system that helps English language learners to correctly use Proverbs in speech.

1.Family relationships:

The family is a haven in a heartless world - Семья это приют в бессердечном мире.

Charity begins at home - Благотворительность начинается дома.

Blood is thicker than water - Кровь крепче воды (Семейные отношения крепче чем все остальные).

The grass isn't greener on the 'other side', the grass isn't greener on your side. It's greener where you water it - Трава не зеленее у других, трава не зеленее у тебя. Она зеленее там, где ты ее поливаешь.

It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons - Не плоть и кровь, но сердце делает нас отцами и сыновьями.

2. Faithful and devoted love:

Love in a cottage - C милым рай и в шалаше.

Love is blind, as well as harted - Любовь слепа.

Love me, love my dog - Любишь меня, люби и собаку мою.

Love will creep where it may not go - Для любви нет преград.

3. The socio-historical experience of people

A nod’s as good as a wink to a blind horse-Как об стену горох.

As you sow so shall you mow–Что посеешь, то и пожнёшь.

Better late than never - Лучше поздно, чем никогда.

Curiosity killed the cat - Любопытной Варваре на базаре нос оторвали

Don’t burn your bridges behind you - Не плюй в колодец: пригодится воды напиться.

4. Everyday and everyday experience of the people:

Beauty is only skin deep - Не родись красивой, а родись счастливой.

Don’t worry, be happy–Утро вечера мудренее

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise– Кто рано встаёт, тому Бог подаёт.

East or West, the home is best–В гостях хорошо, а дома лучше.

Haste makes waste - Поспешишь — людей насмешишь.

Home is where the heart is – Хорошо там, где нас нет

5. Work as the basis of life:

No sweet without а wheat - Ничего сладкого без пота.

Nothing to be got without pains - Ничего не достигнешь без боли.

He that would eat the fruit must climb the tree - Тот, кто хочет съесть фрукт, должен сначала залезть на дерево.

He who would search for pearls must dive for them - Тот, кто ищет жемчуг, должен нырять за ним.

If a job is worth doing it is worth doing well - Если работу стоит делать, то стоит делать её хорошо.

If you cant be good, be careful - Не можешь делать хорошо, делай тщательно.

Self done is well done - Хорошо делается то, что делается своими руками.

3.2 Analysis shaped the basis of Proverbs

Russian proverbs and English proverbs are different in origin, time of occurrence, according to their sources, the social milieu that generated it. And in English and in Russian proverbs, undoubtedly influenced by different times, different social relationships. Comparison of proverbs and sayings of different peoples shows how much in common are these nations that, in turn, contributes to their better understanding and rapprochement. It should be noted that many English and Russian proverbs and sayings-valued, which makes them difficult to interpret and compare. In the selection of Russian match English proverbs mandatory criterion is to match one of the values (usually the main). To express the same or similar thoughts have often used different images, which, in turn, reflect different social patterns and everyday life of the two peoples and are often not absolute equivalents. Thus, many proverbs are easily translated into the Russian language: Man Proposes, God disposes (Человек предполагает, Бог располагает); Look before you leap (Семь раз отмерь, один раз отрежь). 

Others require explanation, as on the contrary, have nothing in common with our Russian expressions, although you can sometimes guess what the British want to say. For example, to the proverb Rats  deserts a sinking ship (Крысы бегут с тонущего корабля) we choose an analogue in the Russian language: На обеде все соседи, а пришла беда – они прочь, как вода. As you can see, proverbs can be divided into the following categories:

1. English proverbs and sayings, which is fully translated the same way in Russian language, i.e. the English version totally corresponds to the Russian;

2. English Proverbs and sayings, which are partly translated the same way in Russian language, i.e. the English version is somewhat different from Russian;

3. English proverbs and sayings, which are completely different translation to Russian language, i.e. the English version did not correspond to Russian.

For the purpose of evidence identify the type of interpreting Proverbs, we give examples of Russian and English Proverbs and try to prove that the proverb belongs to this group.

The first group includes: Не все то золото, что блестит (All is not gold that glitters). In English, this proverb is translated literally. It is obvious that the Shine can not only noble metal but also a cheap bauble: in other words, not everything that catches the eye with its brightness, is valuable. The value of proverbs in English and Russian languages are the same. The meaning of this folk wisdom All is well that ends well (Все хорошо, что хорошо кончается) in English and Russian languages is the same. The same thing we see in the proverb Что посеешь, то и пожнешь (As you sow, you shall mow). In a broader sense: how to work, to act, to learn, to live, this is the result you expect in the future. The proverb Out of sight, out of mind has a Russian analogue С глаз долой – из сердца вон. The meaning in Russian and in English is the same: when you don’t see someone, don't think about him and forget.

Thus, for expressing similar thoughts in this group of proverbs was used the same images to express similar thoughts. And despite the fact that Russian and English proverbs were created in different historical and social conditions, however, similar conditions actually led to the same conclusion.

The second group includes: No pains, no gains. To understand the meaning of this proverb translate it literally – Нет боли, нет успеха. Such proverb isn’t in the Russian language. Then we select a suitable equivalent proverbs in the Russian language, which will reflect the meaning of English proverbs – Без труда – не вытащишь и рыбку из пруда. English proverb A great ship asks deep waters (Большому кораблю – большое плавание)  has long been used in figurative sense: a large undertaking – the high road: or smart and active person – lots of great achievements. And literally from English into Russian saying that translates as Большой корабль нуждается в глубокой воде.  Every cloud has a silver lining (У каждой тучи бывает серебристая каемка), that is not always so gloomy and hopeless. In the Russian language is used the proverb Нет худа без добра. Proverb Better fed than taught we translate Откормлен лучше, чем обучен. Proverb in English and in Russian language characterizes the person who is ill-mannered and uneducated. In Russian language we select close variant of this proverb Велика фигура, да дура or  Вырасти вырос, а ума не скопил.

Proverbs in this group differ from used to them, maxims, i.e., a figurative meaning of these proverbs based on various stylistic techniques that makes English and Russian proverb has many meanings.

The third group of Proverbs. Considering all the features of a language, to translate what is considered part of the culture of one nation into another language is very difficult. For example, an English proverb: The pot calls the kettle black is literally translated as Горшок обзывает этот чайник чёрным. If for the English the meaning of the proverb clear, for the Russian people this proverb seems to be something new, so the meaning is not always fully disclosed. Therefore, for Russian and understood what we wanted to say the English proverb, to look for a Russian equivalent, which will be a Russian proverb Чья бы корова мычала, а твоя помолчала. This option is more understandable and closer to Russian people. But if we translate Russian variant of this proverb into English again, you get the following: «Anyone’s cow may moo, but yours should keep quite». As you can see, the original version (The pot calls the kettle black) far from the end "Anyone's cow may moo, but yours should keep quite".

3.3. Research of use and comparative analysis of proverbs

For definition of more used proverbs, we conducted interrogation among students of our school (Enclosure 1). The most students know what are proverbs and use them about in their life. Especially, the Proverbs about work are the most ordinary. Some students can translate proverbs from English into Russian easily and find Russian equivalents. They are 44%. Some students can translate them from English into Russian hardly. They are 56%.

Conclusion

As a result of our study of the Proverbs and sayings we have come to the following conclusions:

• As for Russian, and for English language is characterized such genre of folklore as Proverbs. And in Russian, and in English proverbs are expressions of popular wisdom, historical memory, is a set of rules of life, practical philosophy, affecting virtually all spheres of life and situations.

• Almost any proverb in literary translation can be replaced by its equivalent in another language.

• Proverbs cannot be translated into other languages word for word, because its value is the sum of the values of those words that they contain. The overwhelming majority of proverbs expressing certain thoughts imaginatively, emotionally, bearing the imprint of a unique national colors.

In conclusion we want to say that the knowledge of proverbs is a necessary condition for deep learning, the ability to use the wealth of eloquence characterizes the degree of ownership stake. It is impossible to display all the richness of proverbs in one work, opportunities for imaginative comprehension of reality is infinite and every nation has its own findings.

Thus, the Proverbs, being a part of the culture of this nation, have always remained and will remain relevant, despite the development of economy and technology, progress, etc. At any time proverbs and sayings are characteristic of a specific people. Proverbs English and Russian people multivalued and bright. Monitor shaped bases of Russian and English folk sayings clearly reveal their organic communication with traditional symbolics and national culture in general. In close unity presents ethical, moral, religious, magic, art and logic aspects of national consciousness, i.e. everything that is Russian and English mentality.

It is necessary to include proverbs in our speech, to teach to translate the proverbs and find equivalents of them in English and Russian. Students have to use proverbs in their speech correctly, when it is only necessary.

Literature

1. Anikin V. P. Russian folklore: Proc. p. for Phil. spec. Universities. – M.: Higher school, 1987. – 285 p.

2. Vinogradov V. V. Russian language: Grammatical teaching of the word. - Moscow: "Higher school", 1977.-119 p.

3. Gvarjaladze, I. S. and others 500 English Proverbs and sayings. - 4-e Izd. – M.: publishing house of foreign literature, 1959. – 36 p

4. Dal ' V. I. Proverbs of the Russian people, vol. 1,2. –Moscow, 1984.

5. Modestov, V. C. English Proverbs and their Russian correspondence. – M.: Rus. Jaz: Media, 2003. – 467p.

6. Mokienko V. M. In depth sayings. -Moscow: "Higher school", 1975. – 18p.

7. Dictionary of common English Proverbs (A dictionary of English proverbs in modern english): 326 articles/bukowska M. V., S. I. Vyaltseva, Z. I. Dubyansky, etc. – 3rd ed., stereotype. – M.: Rus. lang., 1990. – 240 p.

Internet resources

English Proverbs http://ru.wikiquote.org/

http://www.rusnauka.com/28_NIOXXI_2008/Philologia/35651.doc.htm

Enclosure 1

Research questions

1. Do you know what is a proverb?

2. Do you always understand their meaning?

3. How do you consider, whether they are in your life?

4. Do you use them in your speech?

5. What is the most famous proverb for you?

6. Proverbs on what topic do you know better?

7. What Proverbs are used more in everyday life?

8. Can you translate proverbs from other languages and do you always understand their meaning?

9. Is it easy for you to find Russian equivalents to English proverbs?

Enclosure 2

Answers of students

1. Yes – 14; No – 0

2. Yes – 1; No (not always) – 5; sometimes - 8

3. Yes – 12; No- 1; I don’t know - 1

4. Yes – 3; No – 5; Seldom – 6

5. One who has many friends never needs a full purse – 1 ( Не имей сто рублей, а имей сто друзей); Bread is the staff of life – 1(Хлеб – всему голова); No pains, no gains – 6 (Без труда и не вытащишь рыбку из пруда)

6. About work – 10; about family – 4; friendship – 1;

7. About work – 10; life -8; friendship -1;

8. Yes – 2; No – 3; sometimes – 3;

9. No – 9; not always – 4; yes -1; I don’t know - 1

Students of our school use Proverbs about Friendship seldom, about Work and Life often (See following graph).

Thus, we are based on our interrogation, we can say that the most ordinary proverbs are about work, the least – about friendship. No all the English proverbs have Russian equivalents. Some of Proverbs have another meaning and are not translated. Half of Students know proverbs, but can’t translate them from English into Russian.

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