淺談英語諺語的來源、功能及其修辭

淺談英語諺語的來源、功能及其修辭.txt我很想知道，多少人分開了，還是深愛著。ゝ自己哭自己笑自己看著自己鬧。你用隱身來躲避我丶我用隱身來成全你！待到一日權在手，殺盡天下負我狗。淺談英語諺語的來源、功能及其修辭林碧媛［Abstract］Proverbs,incolorfulandvividlanguage,reflectimportanttypicalculturalvaluesofeveryculture.Simpleandpopular,conciseandpithy,theyarepassedonfromgengerationtogenerationinthereadableoralformandhavegraduallybecomeacomponentindispensabletothedominantcultureofthatnation.Thispapercontainsthreeparts:thesourcesofEnglishproverbs、thefunctionsofEnglishproverbsandtherhetoricaldevicesofEnglishproverbs.Firstly,itintroducesthesourcesofEnglishproverbs.Proverbshavealonghistory.Theyarebriefandwell-polishedexpressionsembeddedinphilosophicalideasconcerningdifferentaspectsoflife.Theyarethesummaryofpeopleexperienceineverydaylife,sotheyoriginatedfrompeople’sdailylifeandexperience.Tobespecific,theycomefromfolklife,religion,mythology,literaryworks,otherlanguages,famouswriters’wisdom,anation’shistoryandsoon.Secondly,itmentionsthefunctionofEnglishproverbs.Itsfunctionistoteachandadvisepeoplewhattheyseeintheirlives.ManyEnglishproverbsguidepeopletoadoptacorrectattitudetowardslifeandtotakeaproperwaytogetalongwellwithothers.Someotherproverbstellpeoplewhattodoandhowtodoit,sotheproverbsguidepeople’sdailylife.Fromthem,peoplemaybroadentheirknowledgeandoutlook.Thirdly,itdescribestheirrhetoricaldevices.Englishproverbsarerichandcolorful.WithregardtotheeverlastingcharmoftheEnglishproverbs,therearemanydifferentreasons.Themostimportantoneistheextensiveuseofrhetoricaldevicesandrhythmaticalways,sotheirlanguageisfullofimageandvividnessandhasastrongartisticbeautyandpower.［KeyWords］Englishproverbs；sources；functions；rhetoricaldevices【摘要】諺語豐富多彩，生動雋永，反映了每個民族追崇的重要而獨特的文化價值觀。諺語簡單通俗，精辟凝練，尤其以朗朗的口語形態(tài)承傳沿用，漸漸成為民族主流文化不可缺少的一部分。這篇論文包含三個部分：英語諺語的來源，英語諺語的功能及其修辭。第一部分是介紹英語諺語的來源，英語諺語源遠流長，是人類日常生活經(jīng)驗的結(jié)晶。它來源于日常生活與經(jīng)驗，確切地說，來源于民間生活，宗教，神話，文學著作，其他語言，名人名言以及國家歷史等。第二部分是介紹英語諺語的功能，諺語的功能是教育和指導人們在日常生活中所遇到的情況，同時它們引導人們采取正確的態(tài)度對待生活。從諺語中，人們可以拓寬自己的知識面，避免出錯，具有敏銳的觀察力的人從中受益非淺。第三部分是介紹英語諺語的修辭：英語諺語豐富多彩，具有永恒的魅力，其原因之一就是應用了大量的修辭格和押韻方法，這就使諺語更形象，生動并具有強烈的藝術美和感染力?！娟P鍵詞】英語諺語；來源；功能；修辭格1.IntroductionProverbsareshortsayingsoffolkwisdomofwell-knownfactsortruthscompendiousexpressedandinawaythatmakesthemeasytoremember.Becausetheproverbsaresobrief,theyhaveuniversalappeal.Manypeoplelovetopickupproverbs.Theuseofoneortwointheoriginallanguageisoftenaminorvictoryforthebeginningforeignlanguagelearners.Proverbsmayprovideinterestinglittleglimpsesorcluestoapeople’sgeography,history,socialorganization,socialviews,andattitudes.Peoplewholivealongseacoastsandwhoselivelihoodisdependentontheseawillhaveproverbsaboutsailing,aboutbravingtheweather,aboutfishandfishing.Incultureswhereoldageisrevered,therewillbeproverbsaboutthewisdomoftheelders.Andinsocietieswherewomen’sstatusislow,therewillbeanumberofsayingsdemeaningthem.Proverbstellmuchaboutapeoplestraditionalwaysofexperiencingreality,abouttheproperorexpectedwaysofdoingthings,aboutvaluesandwarnings,andrulesandwisdomstheelderswanttoimpressonthemindsoftheiryoung.Theimportantcharacterofproverbs‘theshorterthebetter’makesiteasytocommitthemtomemoryforreadyrecallwhentheoccasioncallsforseriousorhumorouscommentorwarning.Createdbypeopleinhighandlowstatus,humblefolkandgreatauthors,borrowedfromancientorneighboringcultures,proverbshavebeenaccumulatingovermanycenturies.Someareonlylocallyknownmanyaresharedaroundtheworld.IfonewantstohavebetterknowledgeofEnglishculture，heshouldbefamiliarwiththesourcesandfunctionsofEnglishproverbs.2.ThesourcesofEnglishproverbs2.1OriginatingfromfolklifeProverbsarethesummaryofpeopleexperienceintheireverydaylife.Thesummarizedexperienceandreasonareabstractedfromthepracticeofpeople’slifeandwork.Theyexpresspeople’ssimpleandhealthythoughts,feelingsandsentiments.Moreoftenthannot,itrevealsauniversaltruthfromaparticularpointsoastoenlightenpeople.Agreatnumberofproverbswerecreatedbyworkingpeoplesuchasseamen,hunters,farmers,workmen,housewivesandcooksandsoon,usingfamiliartermsthatwereassociatedwiththeirowntradesandoccupations.Forexample,LivingwithouttheaimislikesailingwithoutacompasswasfirstusedbyseamenIfyourunaftertwohares,youwillcatchneitherbyhuntersAprilrainsforcorn,May,forgrassbyfarmersNewbroomsweepscleanbyhousewivesandToomanycooksspoilthebrothbycooks,etc.Suchexpressionswereallcolloquialandinformalandonceconfinedtoalimitedgroupofpeopleengagedinthesametradeoractivity.Buttheywereprovedtobevivid,andforcibleandstimulating,solatertheybrokeoutoftheirboundsandgraduallygainedwideacceptance.Asaresult,theirearlystylisticfeaturesfadedinsomewayandmanyhavecometobecomepartofthecommoncoreoflanguage,nowbeingusedindifferentoccasions.Someproverbsarerelatedtosomefolkpracticeandcustoms.Forexample,Goodwineneedsnobush.[1]ThisproverbisfromanancientpopularEnglishpractice.Inthepast,Englishwinemerchantstendedtohangsomeivybushesorapictureofivybusheshisears.[9]Thegeneralideaoftheallusionis:acowshowedoffhishornsinfrontofacamel.Thecamelwasenviousofcow’shorns,soherequestedZeustogiveapairofhornstohim.Zeuswasveryangry,becausehethoughtthatthecamelwasgreedytoaskforhornswithhissohugebody.Atlast,hemadeadecisionthatheletthecamelhavehornsbutwiththecostofcuttingoffapartofhisears.Thisproverbtellsusthatifoneisgreedytooccupyeverything,hewillbepunishedbyhisgreed.AnotherproverbisalsofromtheFablesofAesop.“Thegrapesaresour”,asthefoxsaidwhenhecouldnotreachthem.[10]Theallusion,whichthisproverbcamefrom,isgenerallylikethis:oneday,ahungryfoxsawalotofripegrapeshangingonthegrapevine.Hebeathisbrainshardbutcouldnotfindawaytopickthegrapes.Thehungrierhefelt,theangrierhegot.Finally,hegaveup.Inordertocomforthimself,“Thegrapesaresour”,thefoxsaidwhilewalkingaway.Nowadays,peoplewidelyuseittoexpressthatsomeonewhowantstotakeholdofsomethingwithallhiseffortbutfailstogetitwilllowerthevalueofthisthing.Therearealsootherproverbs,suchas:Abarleycornisbetterthanadiamondtoacock.[11]Theallusion’smainideais:whenahungrycockwassearchedforfood,hesawadiamond.Thecocksaidtothediamond:“Tosomeonewhoadmiresyou,youareapreciousthingbuttome,youhavenovalueatall,forallvaluablethingcannotmatchwithabarley-corn.”Indeed,accordingtoourcommonsense,adiamondisfarmorevaluablethanabarley-corn.Buttoahungryman,especiallytosomeonewhoneedsgrainsbadly,hewouldchoosegrainsbutnottreasure,fortreasurecannotsatisfyhisstomach.Sothisproverbtendstoimplythatdifferentpeoplehavedifferentviewsnothesamething.Thesubmittingtoonewrongbringsonanother.[12]Theallusion,whichthisproverbcamefrom,isgenerallylikethis:asnakewasoftenriddendownbypeople,sohecomplainedittoZeus.Zeustoldhimthatifhebitsomeonewhofirstlytrampledonhim,thenextonewouldnottramplehim.Itshowsthatifoneputupwiththemistakehemadeatthefirsttime,hewillmakeanothersimilarmistake.Soweshouldgainalessonfromtheaboveallusionsoastoavoidmakingthesamemistakes.2.4OriginatingfromGreekandRomanmythology“WesternersareheirstoGreco-Romancivilization.ManyideasnowprevailinginwesterncountriescanbetracedbacktothethinkersinancientGreeceandRoman.GreekandRomanmythologiesarewellknowninthewestandhavebeardonastronginfluenceuponpeople’slivesinwesterncountries.ItisnaturalthatitbecomesacommonsourceofEnglishproverbs.”[13]SomeproverbsarefromGreekandRomanmythology.Eachofthemhasanallusion.Forexample,TheDeviltoohasAchilles’heel.[14]AccordingtotheHomer,wecanknow:AchilleswasaGreekhero.Excepthisheel,everypartofAchilles’bodyisswordproof,sohisheelishisfataldefect.TheproverbtellsusthateventheDevilhashisweakness.Nomanisabsolutelypowerful.ThereisasimilarexamplefromRomanmythology.NotevenHerculescouldcontendagainsttwo.[15]Hercules,asonofZeus,wasaheroinRomanmythology.Hehadincredibleforce,whichhelpedhimgaintwelveheroicachievements.Althoughhewaspowerfulenough,hecouldn’tdefeatalargenumberofenemiesonhisown.Sotheproverbstellsusthatman’senergyislimitednomatterhowpowerfulheis.Anotherexample,withoutCeresandBacchus,Venusgrowscold.[16]CeresisRomangoddessofgrainandagricultureBacchusistheGreetgodofwineVenusisthegoddessofbeautyandlove.Fromthis,wecanknowthatCeresandBacchusstandforbasicnecessityoflife.Sotheproverbtendstoexpressthatlovecan’tbesweetwithoutmaterialsupport.2.5OriginatingfromotherlanguagesWiththedevelopmentofsociety,alanguagecannotavoidcontactingwithotherlanguages.Inthecontact,thecertainlanguagesurelyabsorbssomeproverbsfromothers.Withalonghistory,EnglishlanguageborrowedalargenumberofproverbswidelyfrommanyotherlanguagesincludingGreek,Latin,German,Italian,Spanish,Dutch,Hebrew,Arabic,Chinese,andotherlanguages,amongwhichLatin,GreekandFrenchprovidetherichestnutrition.MostoftheborrowedproverbsinEnglish,duetotheremotenessoftime,havealreadyassimilatedormergedintotheEnglishlanguagewiththeirtracesalmostimpossibletofollow.ManyEnglishproverbsoriginatedfromFrench.[17]William,DukeofNormandy,France,landedhismightyarmyatPevensyanddefeatedSaxonkingHarold’smennearHastings.WilliamwascrownedaskingofEngland,andthenheopeneddoorstothecontinentandextendedcultureandcommercialrelationswithFrance.Norman-Franceculture,languageandarchitecturewereintroduced.TheconquerorsruledEnglandinalongperiodoftime,andmostofthegovernorsusedFrenchastheirformallanguage.AlthoughEnglandfinallywonhersovereignty,therewerestillmanyborrowedwordsfromFranceremained.Especially,EnglishpeopleacceptedmanyFrenchsayings.Forexample,Don’tputthecartbeforethehorseVentureasmallfishtocatchagreatoneIfthelion’sskincannot,thefox’sshall.ManyEnglishproverbscamefromLatin.[18]BecauseoftheintroductionofChristianityintoBritain,theinfluenceoftheNormanConquestandtheRenaissanceonEnglish,LatinwordshadmadetheirwayintotheEnglishlanguage.AmongtheseLatinwordstherealsoincludedmanyproverbs,whichgainedwideacceptanceofEnglishpeople.Suchas:FortunefavorsthebraveHewhosayswhathelikes,shallhearwhathedoesnotlikeIfeartheGreeks,evenwhenbringinggiftsThereisnorulewithoutanexceptionandsoon.2.6Originatingfromfamouswriters’wisdomFamouswritersprovidedoneoftherichestsourcesforEnglishproverbs,whichisonlynexttotheproverbsoffolkorigin.Wealsocansaythatmostproverbs,regardlessoftheirinitial,havebeenpolishedandpreservedandpopularizedbyfamouswritersintheirworks.ItisgenerallyagreedthatsuchfamouswritersasBacon,Pope,Franklinandsooncontributedquitealottothecreation,preservationandpopularizationofEnglishproverbs.BaconisadistinguishedEnglishphilosopherandwriter.Heisnotedforastyleofthoroughexpositionandalternativemaxims.ManysentencesinBacon’sworkshavebecomegoldensayingandprevailedamongpeople.Forexample,Readingmakesafullmantellspeoplethatonlybyreadingcanapersonbecomelearnedandprofound.AnotherproverbKnowledgeispoweremphasizestheimportanceofknowledgeandencouragespeopletostudymoreandlearnmore.PopeisanothercelebratedfigureinEnglishliterature.Heemphasizeseducationandknowledgeverymuch.Somesentencesfromhisworkshavebeenacceptedbythereadersandbecomedeeplyrootedamongpeople.TakeAlittlelearningisadangerousthingforexample.ThisdidacticproverbisasentenceinPopeAnEssayonCriticismanditreflectshisideasaboutknowledgeandlearning.BenjaminFranklinisafamousAmericanstatesman,scientistandwriter.Manysayingsfromhisworkswerewidelyacceptedandenlightenpeople.Forexample,Littlestrokefellgreatoaks.[19]Ittellsusthatonenevergivinguppursuingknowledge,becauseonlythosewhoarestrong-mindedcanbehighlyintellectual.Anotherexample,Godhelpthemthathelpthemselves.[20]Ittendstotellusthatsolongasonevaluesself-relianceandindependence,hecancreateopportunities,seekcompetitionandbereadyfortherisks.3.ThefunctionofEnglishproverbsThefunctionsofEnglishproverbsarethattheyexpresssomerulesofconductandquiteoftenconveysomeadviceorcounsel.Inotherwords,mostEnglishproverbspossessphilosophicdepthorinstructivefunction.ForthousandsofyearstheyhavebeeninstructingandinspiringEnglishpeople,sotheyhavebeenregardedastheguidelineofpeople’sthoughtsanddeeds,whichmeansEnglishpeoplearethinkingordoingthingsbyfollowingthedirectionoftheirproverbseitherconsciouslyorunconsciously.Englishproverbshavebecomeanimportantsourcesofinspirationjustbecausetheycontaintruth,wisdom,counsel,ruleofconduct,etc.FollowingwillmentiontwofunctionsofEnglishproverbs.3.1ThefunctiontoadviseSomeproverbsareintendedtopersuadeandteachpeople.Topersuadeistopraisejustice,tofightagainstthebully.Toteachistoguidepeopletoadoptacorrectattitudetowardslife,totakeaproperwaytogetalongwellwithothers.Forexample,BetterdiewithhonorthanlivewithshameDon’thavecloaktomakewhenitbeginstorain.Suchproverbssoundveryfirmandresoluteandtheycanstrengthenpeopleconvictionandawakenpeopleconsciousnessoflifeorbettertheirthinkingmethods.Theyareveryhelpfulforpeopletomakedistinctionbetweenrightandwrong,tobeclearaboutwhattoloveandwhattohate.Becausetheyaregoodforpeople’sself-cultivationandtheycancallfordeepthought,manypeopletaketheseproverbsastheirlifemotto.Someotherproverbsrevealandcriticizethedarksideoftheagesorsociety.Theyattackthedirtypracticesofthesocietysoastoremindpeopletokeepconsciousandmaintainsharpwarning.Forexample,Thefoxchangeshisskin,butnothishabitAleopardcannotchangeitsspots.Peopletendtorecitesuchproverbswhentheyaredisclosingtheevilinthesocietyorwhentheyareremindingotherstokeepalert.3.2ThefunctiontospreadexperiencesandknowledgeManyproverbssummarizeknowledgeofpeople’sdailylifesuchasThebestwinecomesoutofanoldvesselSoftfiremakessweetmalt.Aspeople’sdailylifeiscomplicatedandextremelytrifling,suchproverbsarenumerous.Theysummarizepeople’sknowledgeintheirlifeandtheytellpeoplewhattodoandhowtodoit.Theyarejustlikeanencyclopediatoguidepeople’sdailylife.Fromthem,peoplemaybroadentheirknowledgeandoutlooksoastoavoidmakingmistakes.Someproverbsofthistypeareconcernedwithaparticularfield,likefarmerproverbsandmeteorologicalproverbs.Peasantsofdifferentages,intheiroveryears’work,practiceandprovethefarmingexperienceandproductiverules.Fromgenerationtogeneration,theysumuptheirexperienceandthefarmingrulesintosomevivid,conciseandlivelysentences.Thesesentencesarefarmerproverbsandtheyarepracticedandtestifiedyearafteryearandtheyhavebeenprovedtrueandaccurate.Theyreflectthepeasants’farmingexperienceandagriculturallawandshowtheworkingpeople’swisdom.Farmerproverbsareapreciousandvaluablepartofagriculturaldata.Peasantsofdifferentageshavesomeofthemasguideintheirfarming.Andmeteorologicalproverbs,whichsummarizethefundamentalmeteorologicalknowledgeofgenerations,arealsoabighelpinpeoplelife.Forexample,AprilshowersbringforthMayflowersAcoldMayandawindymakesafullbarnandafindyDryAugustandwarmdoesharvestnoharmAfairdayinwinteristhemotherofastormAmistymorningmayhaveafinedayCloudymorningsturntoclearevenings.4.TherhetoricaldevicesofEnglishproverbsIfwesaythephilosophicorinstructiveaspectofEnglishproverbsisagoodhelptothepeople,thenwecanalsosaythattheartisticoraestheticaspectofEnglishproverbsisaccelerantthatattractspeople’sattentiontomakefulluseofthem.Englishproverbsarealwaysterse,figurativeandwithpleasantsoundeffect,whichmakethemeasytomemorizeandpleasanttoears.FollowingwewilldiscusstherhetoricaldevicesofEnglishproverbs.4.1Repetition（1）Soundinbody,soundinmind.（2）Foolslearnnothingfromwisemen,butwisemenlearnmuchfromfools.（3）Oneboyisaboy,twoboyshalfaboy,threeboysnoboy.（4）Awisemanthinksallthathesaysafoolsaysallthathethinks.Fromtheaboveexamples,wecanfindthattherepeatedwordorideahasareinforcingeffect.Withtherepetitionofthesamewordinclosesuccession,wemaynoticethatthemainpointofthesentencebecomesclear.Itcanalsobeusedtoexpressstrongemotionandgiveusanaestheticfeelingandasenseoflogicalprogressionofideas.[21]4.2Phonology4.2.1Alliteration（5）Hewhomakesconstantcomplaintsgetslittlecompassion.（6）Afairfacemayhideafoulheart.（7）Thefairestflowerssoonestfade.（8）Timeandtidewaitfornoman.Fromtheaboveexamples,wecanfindthattheseproverbsarevividwithrhythm.Becauseofrhythm,alliterationisagreathelptomemory.Itcancatchtheattentionofthereadersandmaketheideaimpresseddeeplyonthereaders,sotheproverbsareeasiertoremember.4.2.2Consonance（9）Inyouththehoursaregolden,andinmatureyearstheyaresilvern,andinoldagetheyareleaden.（10）Hopeforthebest,preparefortheworst.（11）Wherelovefails,weespyallfaults.Fromtheabove-mentioned,consonancemakestheproverbsmorerhythmicandmoreappealing.Itisalsogoodforsoundrhyme,musicaleffectandsignificantemphasis.4.2.3Assonance（12）Wheretheneedlegoes,thethreadfollows.（13）Whothatinyouth,novirtueuses,inoldallhonorhimrefuses.（14）Afriendinneedisafriendindeed.Therepetitionoftheabovevowelproducesmusicalrhythmandsoundeuphony.4.3Comparison4.3.1Simile（15）Marchcomesinlikealionandgoesoutlikealamb.（16）Truefriendshipislikesoundhealth,thevalueofwhichisseldomknownuntilitbelost.（17）Alambisasdearasdearastoapoormanasanoxtotherich.Aswecanseefromtheaboveexamples,simileexplainsabstract,complicatedideasinsimpleandconcreteway.4.3.2Metaphor（18）Moneyisagoodservantbutabadmaster.（19）Knowledgeisatreasurebutpracticeisthekeytoit.（20）Hopeisthepoorman’sbread.Aswecanseefromtheaboveexamples,animpliedcomparisonbetweentwodifferentthingsthatshareatleastoneattributeincommon.4.3.3Metonymy（21）Alightheartliveslong.（22）Asoftanswerturnedawaywrath.（23）Anironhandinavelvetglove.（24）Aclosemouthcatchesnoflies.Aswecanseefromtheaboveexamples,unlikesimile,thecomparisoninmetaphorisimplied.Itrequiresgreaterabilityonthepartofthereadertomakeoutthehiddenassociationorinsight,sometaphorisgenerallymorecomplicatedandmoreinvolvedthansimile.Theaboveproverbsenrichandstrengthenthereader’sexistingassociationandbringingaboutgreaterrhetoricaleffectiveness.[22]4.4Personification4.4.1Inanimateobjectspersonalizing（25）Wallhasears.（26）Moneymakesthemarego.（27）Thepotcallsthekettleblack.4.4.2Animalspersonalizing（28）Thefoxknewtoomuch,that’showhelosthistail.（29）Nightingaleswillnotsinginacage.（30）Thetortoisewinstheracewhilethehareissleeping.（31）Twosparrowsononeearofcornmakeanillagreement.4.4.3Plantspersonalizing（32）Agreattreeattractsthewind.（33）Asingleflowerdoesnotmakeaspring.4.4.4Abstractideaspersonalizing（34）Truthconquersallthings.（35）Opportunityseldomknockstwice.（36）Virtuedwellsnotinthetonguebutintheheart.Intheaboveproverbs,thereareincludingthreepartsofpersonification.Usingpersonificationmakestheproverbsmorevividandmoreattractive.Itcanimpressthereadersdeeply.4.5Parallel（37）Inforapenny,inforapound.（38）Inyouththehoursaregolden,andinmatureyearstheyaresilvern,andinoldagetheyareleaden.（39）Theleastsaid,thesoonestmended.Aswecanfromtheabove,parallelstructurecancreateagoodvisualimageandhelpreadersmovequicklyfromoneideatothenext.Parallelismgivesemphasis,charityandcoherenceofideas,anditalsogivestherhythmoftheproverbs.Ithelpsthereaderstocatchtheideaofthespeakersorwritereasilyandpleasantly.[23]4.6Synecdoche（40）Twoheadsarebetterthanone.（41）Greatmindsthinkalike.Herethewords“head”and“mind”arebothrepresent“aperson”.4.7Hyperbole（42）Athousandyearscannotrepairamomentslossofhonor.（43）Theworldisbutalittleplace,afterall.（44）Anunfortunatemanwouldedrownedinateacup.Hyperboleisacommonlyusedasignofgreatemotionasshownintheaboveexamples.Thereisnointenttodeceivethereader,instead,inthespeaker’smindheistrulydescribinghisintensefeelingatthetime.4.8Pun（45）Measureyourselfbyyourownfoot.Heretheword“foot”hastwomeanings:onemeanshuman’heel,theotherisdimensionalunit.