10010016 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES  NGUYỄN THỊ BÍCH TRANG TOWARDS BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND USING ENGLISH PROVERBS HƯỚNG TỚI VIỆC HIỂU VÀ SỬ DỤNG TỤC NGỮ TIẾNG ANH TỐT HƠN M.A. thesis – program I Field: english linguistics Code: 602215 Hanoi, 2008 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES  NGUYỄN THỊ BÍCH TRANG TOWARDS BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND USING ENGLISH PROVERBS HƯỚNG TỚI VIỆC HIỂU VÀ SỬ DỤNG TỤC NGỮ TIẾNG ANH TỐT HƠN M.A. thesis – program I Field: english linguistics Code: 602215 Supervisor: Assoc.Prof.Dr Phan Văn Quế Hanoi, 2008 THE TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PART A: INTRODUCTION 01 1. Rationale 01 2. Objectives of the study 02 3. Scope of the study 02 4. Methods of the study 02 4.1. Strategic method 02 4.2. Tackling methods 02 4.3. Supporting methods 03 PART B: DEVELOPMENT 04 Chapter I: Literature Review 04 I.1. Origin of proverbs 04 I.2. Definitions of proverbs 04 I.2.1. Introduction 04 I.2.2. The definition of proverbs in the literature 05 I.2.2.1. An open or implied denial of the possibility of defining proverbs 05 I.2.2.2. A proverb is identical with its text 06 I.2.2.3. More complex definitions 06 I.2.3. A proposed definition 09 I.2.3.1. The necessary and sufficient conditions of a proverb definition 09 I.2.3.2. The proposed definition 11 I.2.4. The main types of proverbs 12 I.2.5. A note on the content of proverbs 12 I.3. Differences between proverbs and other related terms 13 I.3.1. Differences between proverbs and idioms 13 I.3.1.1. Content 13 I.3.1.2. Function 13 I.3.2. Differences between “proverbs” and “ca dao” 14 I.4. Characteristics of proverbs 15 I.4.1. Forms 15 I.4.2. Content 16 I.4.3. Function 16 Chapter II: Factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using English proverbs 19 II.1. Difference in culture 19 II.1.1. Definitions of culture 19 II.1.2. Differences between English culture and Vietnamese culture 19 II.2. Differences in using metaphor in English and Vietnamese proverbs 21 II.2.1. English and Vietnamese animal system in proverbs in comparison 22 II.2.1.1. Animal components in English 22 II.2.1.2. Animal components in Vietnamese 22 II.2.1.3. Animal components in Vietnamese and English in common 23 II.2.1.4. Animal components existing only in English 24 II.2.1.5. Animal components existing only in Vietnamese 25 II.3. Difference in rhythm and rhyme 27 II.3.1. Rhythm 27 A. Rhythm of English proverbs 28 1. Factors creating rhythm 28 2. Types of rhythm 28 3. Function of rhythm 31 B. Rhythm of Vietnamese proverbs 31 1. Factors creating rhythm 31 1.1. “âm vực” 31 1.2. “âm điệu” (or tune) 31 2. Types of rhythm 33 3. Function of rhythm 35 3.1. Grammatical function 35 3.2. Meaning-expressing function 35 3.3. Poetic function 35 II.3.2. Rhyme of proverbs 36 II.3.2.1. Factors creating rhyme 36 II.3.2.1.1. The repetition phenomena 36 II.3.2.1.1.1. English proverbs 36 II.3.2.1.1.2. Vietnamese proverbs 38 II.4. Difficulties in translating English proverbs into Vietnamese ones 40 Chapter III: Implications towards better proverb translation 46 III.1. How to translate English proverbs into Vietnamese ones successfully 46 III.2. Vietnamese equivalent can be found 46 III.3. Vietnamese equivalent cannot be found 48 III.3.1. We can add or omit words to create rhyme ( rhyme in succession, rhyme in separation, relative rhyme or perfect rhyme) 48 III.3.2. Creating rhyme by repeating words 49 III.3.3. The proverb can be translated into a Vietnamese six-eight meter 49 III.3.4. Creating two equal, parallel clause 50 III.3.5. Making tone symmetrical 51 PART C: CONCLUSION 53 PART D: BIBLIOGRAPHY 54 PART A: INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale English has become an international language. That is the truth that cannot be denied. As people all over the world wish to get closer and closer, English has shown its great function as a great bridge of communication. Mastering English means not only the ability to speak English fluently but also the necessity of having a full and perfect knowledge of English culture, history, lifestyle…the shortest way to access and gain these knowledge, surely, is to get to know English proverbs. As clearly known, proverb is one of the most ancient kinds of Folklore which contain many distinguishing features of each nation in the world. In Vietnamese, „„proverbs are the sayings of people, a treasure of various and „„live‟‟ expressing forms that the labor class as well as many other different classes in society use to express their attract ideas, their deep thoughts of life. (Chu Xuan Dien- Vietnamese proverbs) In English, “Proverbs are so much the common property of all English men that in conversation, it is often enough to repeat just the beginning of a proverb, the rest is easily supplied by the other calculators‟‟ (W.J. Ball- Conversational English) Understanding English proverbs, therefore, helps us understand more clearly about a nation, about its culture, history…Furthermore, exploring, comparing and contrasting proverbs in native as well as in target language will surely bring about a treasure of valuable knowledge and a more convenient condition for foreign language learning process. However, understanding and using English proverbs effectively is very difficult for many reasons: differences in culture and history, poor background knowledge of learners, techniques and strategies in studying proverbs… These ideas give me a tremendous impetus to implement the study „Towards better understanding and using English proverbs’’. This study is an investigation into factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using English proverbs. As an investigation, it brings insights into some of the most common factors which, to some extents, hinder learners from mastering English proverbs. Hopefully, this study will bring considerable effective contributions to better understanding and using English proverbs. In my view, the sooner learners can start to enjoy English proverbs in their new language, the better. 2. Objectives of the study The objective of this study is to find out some common factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using English proverbs. 3. Scope of the study As there so many factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using English proverbs, the study by no means investigates all factors concerned. Some of factors are not included in this study. They are omitted simply because of limitations of time, necessary, qualified and reliable resources, and of course the knowledge of mine. Furthermore, exploring and mastering English proverbs is quite a large field, I, therefore, limit my study in a smaller one “Towards better understanding and using English proverbs’’. My study only looks for some very main and common factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using English proverbs. In addition, the study is confined to the context of understanding and using English proverbs in Vietnam. The problems discussed in the study may be irrelevant or inappropriate in other contexts. 4. Methods of the study During the implementation of the study “Towards better understanding and using English proverbs‟‟, three main following kinds of methods were employed: strategic methods, tackling methods and supporting methods. Let‟s have a look at these methods respectively. 4.1. Strategic method The strategic method contains inductive methods. As for inductive method, facts and figures which were relevant and essential for better understanding and using English proverbs were collected carefully and analyzed thoroughly in order to draw common factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using English proverbs. 4.2. Tackling methods On the way to realize and decide the objectives of the study, I also employed a number of tackling methods namely description, classification, statistics, analysis and syntheses of data. Facts, figures and also examples illustrated for English proverbs were fully described and classified and then I put them directly into the analyzing and synthesizing process. The results of the data analysis, synthesis and findings have helped me draw some factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using English proverbs. 4.3. Supporting methods Supporting methods consist of references to publication, personal observations and consultant to my supervisor, teachers and friends. Reading materials relating to English proverbs and observing the facts have provided me with insights into the common factors Most important of all, I kept regular contact with my supervisor-Dr Phan Van Que-His invaluable assistance and guidance helped me much to understand more clearly about the study and my task. I also consulted my friends in my university and in some other universities. Discussion with them helped me improve the feasibility and practicality of the study. PART B: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER I: LITERATURE REVIEW The theoretical background and review of related literature will be discussed under three subheadings: (I.1) Origin of proverbs, (I.2) Definitions of proverbs, (I.3) Characteristics of proverbs I.1. Origin of proverbs “Where do proverbs come from?” is a question which is certainly still in the forefront of debate today, yet, it remains controversial and no one can answer for sure. Thus, it is no easy task to clearly point out the origin of proverbs. I, 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 number of proverbs created 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  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. I.2. Definitions of proverbs I.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 e.g. 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. I.2.2. The definition of proverbs in the literature In the corresponding papers many definitions can be found. Professor Mieder in one of his papers with admitted overstatement- puts that “We can almost state that there are more definition attempts than there are proverbs” (Mieder 1989, p.13.) In the 12 th century, Mathieu de Vend«me (quoted by Bautier 1984) wrote “A proverb is a popular 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: “A proverb is 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 be; it 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 be counterfeited by a clever literary man, it should be attested in different places and different times.” (Whiting 1932. p. 302) Many previous definitions are listed in Whiting‟s mentioned paper, in the book of Lutz Rohrich and Wolfgang Mieder (Rohrich-Mieder 1972). 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) If a classification of the proverb definitions is attempted, the following main categories can be distinguished. I.2.2.1. An open or implied denial of the possibility of defining proverbs Archer Taylor states that “The definition of a proverb is too difficult to repay the undertaking… an incommunicable quality tells us this sentence is proverbial and that other is not”. (Taylor 1931) Needless to say, such an incommunicable quality does not exist. In 1996, during a discussion of the Tokyo International Proverb Forum, professor Mieder mentioned that Archer Taylor has probably considered it a joke. Unfortunately, it has been taken seriously and is 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 currency decides that a sentence is a proverb or not. If 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 English 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: “I shall take refuge in the tautology that a proverb is an expression we recognize as a proverbial”. I.2.2.2. A proverb is identical with its text Some examples:  “A proverb is a short sentence of wisdom”. (quoted by Mieder 1989. p.15)  “A proverb is a standard statement of moral and colloquial imperatives in fixed metaphorical paradigmatic form, it deals with fundamental logical relationships”. (Barley 1972. p.741)  “A proverb is a general statement or judgement, explaining, classifying or assessing a situation”. (Harald Burger, quoted by W. Mieder 1877. p.2)  “A traditional propositional statement consisting of at least one descriptive element consisting of a topic and a comment”. (Dundes 1975)  “Proverbs are popular fixed sentences expressing a rule of conduct or a wisdom in a vivid, short form” (Rohrich-Mieder 1977. p.2) It has, however, been pointed out repeatedly that e.g. “two major ingredients… traditionality and currency should be part of any definition”. (Mieder 1996. p.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. p.282). I.2.2.3. 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”. (O. Nagy 1979. p.645) [...]... remember English proverbs and we also find it difficult to acquire English proverbs II.3 Difference in rhythm and rhyme One main factor that makes it difficult to understand and use English proverbs accurately is the difference in rhyme and rhythm between English proverbs and Vietnamese proverbs Truly, there are many differences in rhyme and rhythm between English proverbs and Vietnamese ones but no... horse has taken the symbol buffalos position Thus, this difference between agricultural and nomadic culture is one of the main factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using English proverbs II.2 Differences in using metaphor in English and Vietnamese proverbs Most proverbs (both Vietnamese and English proverbs) use metaphor expression The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defines metaphor... 169 common proverbs were found, some of them having close equivalents in Vietnamese, Thai and Malay too Some European proverbs like Time is money have since made their way into Far-Eastern languages too I.3 Differences between proverbs and other related terms For better understanding and using English proverbs, differences between proverbs, idioms and ca dao are also mentioned because in proverbs there... b1 b2=pv b 1= concrete case b1=something flat GI=pv= Do as you would b 2= pv= be done by Flat as a pancake GI= One should not criticise a present GC= flat I.2.5 A note on the content of proverbs As the basic experience of mankind on human behaviour is the same from time immemorial, a considerable part of proverbs even in independent cultures express the same basic ideas Some examples: reciprocity and. .. both rhythmical and stable in structure In Vietnamese proverbs, rhythm appears with the pause in speech, which originated from the structurization of proverbs In English proverbs, rhythm is defined by the regular appearance of head syllables However, first we should have a careful look at rhythm of English proverbs and analyse it to withdraw the differences between English proverbs and Vietnamese ones... rhythm and speech embodies this feeling for life The rhythm of proverbs, then, is merely a specialization of an inherent and vital characteristic of speech, and especially of speech charged with emotion Understanding clearly what rhythm is and what it does in proverbs are very essential as rhythm is the external appearance factor that creates the specific trait of intonation of proverbs, which helps proverbs. .. problem for intermediate Vietnamese students of English in understanding and using English proverbs accurately For one thing, many of them are not sure about this main difference in the two cultures that is revealed clearly through proverbs with the metaphor expression For another thing, they may be confused when they see an English proverb with an animal and its Vietnamese equivalent with another animal... the function to express meaning b The poetic function Rhythm makes English proverbs poetical and musical B Rhythm of Vietnamese proverbs 1 Factors creating rhythm In English proverbs, stress is the factor creating rhythm but in Vietnamese proverbs thanh điệu carries out that task Thanh điệu in Vietnamese has a contradiction in Âm vực and Âm điệu 1.1 Âm vực Sounds that have high Âm vực are Không dấu,... Considering the proverbs, any definition should distinguish them from other similar items, like quotations and aphorism, having single authors, standard expressions of special fields and simple sentences Any definition must include the following recognized and necessary characteristics of proverbs Proverbs appear in the form of short sentences, having a standard text, allowing sometimes some standard variants... idioms and ca dao biên)- Natioal I.3.1 Differences between proverbs and idioms Nowadays, the problem of how to distinguish proverbs from idioms is still on hot debate Basing on definitions of proverbs mentioned above and through the process of collecting and analyzing, I distinguish proverbs . BÍCH TRANG TOWARDS BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND USING ENGLISH PROVERBS HƯỚNG TỚI VIỆC HIỂU VÀ SỬ DỤNG TỤC NGỮ TIẾNG ANH TỐT HƠN M.A. thesis – program I Field: english linguistics. LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES  NGUYỄN THỊ BÍCH TRANG TOWARDS BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND USING ENGLISH PROVERBS HƯỚNG TỚI VIỆC HIỂU VÀ SỬ DỤNG TỤC NGỮ. one Towards better understanding and using English proverbs ’. My study only looks for some very main and common factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using English proverbs.