浅谈英语谚语的来源、功能及其修辞

［Abstract］ Proverbs, in colorful and vivid language, reflect important typical cultural values of every culture . Simple and popular, concise and pithy, they are passed on from gengeration to generation in the readable oral form and have gradually become a component indispensable to the dominant culture of that nation.
This paper contains three parts:  the sources of English proverbs、 the functions of English proverbs and the rhetorical devices of English proverbs.
Firstly, it introduces the sources of English proverbs. Proverbs have a long history.  They are brief and well-polished expressions embedded in philosophical ideas concerning different aspects of life. They are the summary of people experience in everyday life, so they originated from people’s daily life and experience. To be specific, they come from folk life, religion, mythology, literary works, other languages, famous writers’ wisdom, a nation’s history and so on.
Secondly, it mentions the function of English proverbs. Its function is to teach and advise people what they see in their lives. Many English proverbs guide people to adopt a correct attitude towards life and to take a proper way to get along well with others. Some other proverbs tell people what to do and how to do it, so the proverbs guide people’s daily life. From them, people may broaden their knowledge and outlook.
Thirdly, it describes their rhetorical devices. English proverbs are rich and colorful. With regard to the everlasting charm of the English proverbs, there are many different reasons. The most important one is the extensive use of rhetorical devices and rhythmatical ways, so their language is full of image and vividness and has a strong artistic beauty and power.
［Key Words］ English proverbs； sources； functions； rhetorical devices

【摘 要】  谚语丰富多彩，生动隽永，反映了每个民族追崇的重要而独特的文化价值观。谚语简单通俗，精辟凝练，尤其以朗朗的口语形态承传沿用，渐渐成为民族主流文化不可缺少的一部分。
这篇论文包含三个部分：英语谚语的来源，英语谚语的功能及其修辞。第一部分是介绍英语谚语的来源，英语谚语源远流长，是人类日常生活经验的结晶。它来源于日常生活与经验，确切地说，来源于民间生活，宗教，神话，文学著作，其他语言，名人名言以及国家历史等。第二部分是介绍英语谚语的功能，谚语的功能是教育和指导人们在日常生活中所遇到的情况，同时它们引导人们采取正确的态度对待生活。从谚语中，人们可以拓宽自己的知识面，避免出错，具有敏锐的观察力的人从中受益非浅。第三部分是介绍英语谚语的修辞：英语谚语丰富多彩，具有永恒的魅力，其原因之一就是应用了大量的修辞格和押韵方法，这就使谚语更形象，生动并具有强烈的艺术美和感染力。
【关键词】 英语谚语；来源；功能；修辞格

1. Introduction
Proverbs are short sayings of folk wisdom of well-known facts or truths compendious expressed and in a way that makes them easy to remember. Because the proverbs are so brief, they have universal appeal. Many people love to pick up proverbs. The use of one or two in the original language is often a minor victory for the beginning foreign language learners. Proverbs may provide interesting little glimpses or clues to a people’s geography, history, social organization, social views, and attitudes. People who live along seacoasts and whose livelihood is dependent on the sea will have proverbs about sailing, about braving the weather, about fish and fishing. In cultures where old age is revered, there will be proverbs about the wisdom of the elders. And in societies where women’s status is low, there will be a number of sayings demeaning them.

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